Essiesmom

Finally on my laptop and can load the pics: That's a lot of good guacamole for three chips. Have bread or breadstick handy Another atrium background. You can't see the big snowflakes floating down I went to karaoke again. I get the feeling some of these performers sang with garage bands when they were much younger. There are a few young people, but most are grandparent age. Drifted through Sports Bar with Monday Night Football. Place was packed. Listened to a guitarist in Times Square, went out on deck 8 to see the light show. Had to get more walking minutes in so rambled around. Now it's time for bed.

On the one hand, I did nothing today. But I actually was quite busy. For another forum I follow and document cruise ships in the Panama Canal through webcam captures, and sometimes bridgecams. There were three today. The two from the Pacific side were early, but Marina from the east took her time. I had cottage cheese and fruit in the buffet for breakfast. It was crowded but folks were already going ashore. It was breezy and when I was out on deck 8 I thought it was cool. Ali and the electrician came by my cabin and said the problem is that you can set the thermostat warmer, but once you take out your card and leave the cabin it reverts to the previous temp, which sometime in the past must have been 66. They told me to go to GS and ask for an extra blank card to leave in the slot. Which I did. They gave me no argument. Then I went up to the buffet to have a salad and fill my bottle with iced tea. Then it was back to the cabin for a nap. Supper tonight was interesting. I was the only one at the 8 top. There is a table next to ours that had an older couple and a younger woman. One empty chair and two highchairs. Tonight those three were filled with dad and two toddlers. The youngest was a little gretzy to start. It’s a shame they weren’t there last night as the wait staff would have had snacks ready to keep the kids happy. I was not much hungry. I had the guacamole with chips, rotisserie chicken, and cheesecake. The chicken was going to be my go to when nothing looks good, but my goodness, it was half the chicken. It was food but I did not do it justice. Now I am on deck and just realized the singer finished her set. Time to find some more entertainment. I’m having trouble getting pictures to load

Excursions are not much of a bargain pre-purchased. All the exc. on 9Ocean Cay are only $1-5 off except the wave runner which is about $30 off. EM

Yes I did. It is still not perfect but much better. I think he might have put it on upside down, with the smooth side up but I’m not about to deconstruct the bed to find out. My current problem is with the a/c . It is too cold and when I set it for higher I come back to the cabin and the thermostat is back to the bottom. And humidity is up to 73. Ali says he doesn’t touch it. 66 in the cabin this morning. He will talk with a/c people

MSC charges through a bank in Paris or Switzerland so if your card charges a foreign transaction fee it won’t matter what the currency is. There are many cards out there that don’t charge this fee. If your card is through your bank chances are they offer one and there probably will not be an annual fee. I have about six cards that don’t charge a fee. EM

Update…we made it!

Good morning. I’m thinking we may miss Ocean Cay today. There was a lot of activity with the thrusters, and I could see the island and channel markers. But after another thruster session, we seem to be full steam ahead. Supposed to be here overnight so maybe try later.

Just in case anyone is interested, here are the kids menus in the app. I haven't blown them up to see if anything is different each night, but I suspect they offer the same things just with a different description to fit the theme: All for now

I have no idea. First night of new cruise and the line was endless outside of the Central Park Restaurant...of people who wanted to change their dining assignment. Those of us who knew our table just threaded our way through. There was a table set up on Deck 6 in Times Square for people who wanted changes, but I guess a lot missed it. All of the original 6 were back at our table tonight, plus we added a new couple who are relatively local to PC, have cruised other lines but not MSC. The menu was some of the usual first night stuff, and some additions. I had onion soup and the prime rib. I forgot pic of the onion soup... After dinner I went to the show. It was variety, the often first night presentation of the singers and dancers, juggler, acrobat, magician...It was okay.. The magician has the stage tomorrow so maybe I will try to find the Cabaret Rouge... I spent a little time in the Sports Bar where they had had NFL all day, and now had Sunday Night Football. A little odd to see it without the usual musical intro. I didn't stay long, went walking about, heading for Venchi and my straciatella cone. The piano duo had just finished their set, so I didn't stay long after finishing. It was time to come back to the cabin anyway, as my watch needed charging. A few more pictures from port and around the ship. Ocean Cay tomorrow. Times Square From level 5 of the parking garage, looking at Wonder of the Seas, and at Seashore

I do not believe they sell day passes. From what nI have read here, you might be able to escort them to your room, but they cannot use any of the facilities outside of your cabin. EM

It's been a busy day, but I did find time for a nap until the safety drill announcements. My cabin is noisy at times, like now. There is a loading door right below me, and right now they are loading pallets of Acqua Panna. Essie has been glue to the window all day watching this. I think she wants to make sure all the beer is loaded. The B2B process was something of a cluster... We met about 1000 in the Tribeca MDR. They had coffee, tea, and pastries available. All hot stuff and carbs. Finally someone brought out bottles of water. We checked it at the front desk, there was a woman there at a computer with a list of everyone. She checked our cards to make sure we had the correct ending date. People who booked as two cruises and had to change cabins had to get a new card, and some hadn't done so. I asked how many of us there would be, and she said 181! People waited until the last minute to show up, and of course, people waited until the last minute to leave the cruise. Finally they marched us out, clocked off the ship, back down the gangway, down the ramp to the departure hall. Then we had to stand and wait a long time. Apparently there were four or so people who should have been with us that weren't. When they finally rounded them up we quickly went through facial recognition except a few with birth certificates. Then we retraced our steps up the ramp and back onto the ship. By this time they had starter boarding new guests. I went up to the buffet and made a salad. Rested awhile, and then made the trek out to the parking garage. I needed a second USB cable for my Apple stuff and had a couple in the car. I am parked on deck 5 in the garage, and it was quite empty, so I moved my car to a space closer to the elevators. No reason to try and find a space on a lower deck, I'll have to take the elevator anyway. Then it was back to the cabin to put everything on charge. Deck 8 Infinity pool Infinity Bar Venchi Gelato Uptown Lounge. They do karaoke here Cocktail Bar Teppanyaki Spa and Gym Tribeca Restaurant Table decorations All for now. Off to dinner.

Still on deck 18, I think this is Pirate's Cove. I didn't make it up to 19 today Kiddie pool drained Looking over the wall into kids area End of the really big slide that starts...somewhere else. Neighbor. Carnival Vista Aft pool Deck 18 From there I took the glass elevator down to 8

Hall of Games. The bowling is a travesty

Jungle pool area You do realize all the greenery is fake. There's probably the third one there but I missed him/her. Up to deck 18 These are some of the more comfortable chairs I have found Terminal 10 Legos I think this is what they call the Walkby Pool...

I went aft to get the elevator to the buffet but both were not available, so I just went into the MDR. I had the Express Breakfast: scrambled, bacon/sausage, toast. I got grapefruit juice but again, it is very watered down and tastes as though they have sweetened it. The menu looks really abbreviated. I discovered yesterday that they have loaded all the menus for the next week into the app. And it appears there is only one Gala night. We B2Bers were to meet at 1000 in the Tribeca MDR, so I had time to spend, so I wandered around taking pictures Prepare for another photo dump.

Maybe it's a new diamond perk. EM

Beaches. I did not stray far from the paths, no intention of actually visiting the beach. From Lighthouse Point Staircase, if you wish to climb the tower I think they should make everyone shower before reboarding. Can you imagine how much beach sand ends up in the carpet? You can follow the dandy footprints down the corridors... Salad lunch yesterday All for now until I take some more. Have hardly any of ship interior.

Arrival at Ocean Cay Lighthouse Beach One of my purposes this time was to photograph the showers on the outside of the bathroom buildings. They are only on one side, and they are freshwater, not salt. Recycled oil drums? Wonder if they were part of the site cleanup?

Okay, on my TMobile hotspot so can post a ton of pics. I hope I am not duplicating... Nassau, Seashore and Eurodam, Christmas tree in the new market area:

I felt/heard the thrusters, think we are turning, go to the window to see, and they are washing the windows! No rain predicted at tHis time… Hmmm…maybe it is raining? Looks like some drops on the window in front of the ‘bride’ cam.

I have plenty of Ocean Cay photos, and there are many on my previous blog on Seaside. Will post later today when I have Wi-Fi on my surface pro and can space the pics with titles. We are in the channel now.. Ali got me a foam pad, much better but not perfect. He also gave me a box of tissue! I rejected the bottle of bubbly and macarons.

Was not very hungry for supper. Only one at my 8 top. Ordered the veggie spring rolls, wedge salad and Mac and cheese. Didn’t eat much of the Mac. Got my iced tea bottle filled in the mdr so brought it to my cabin. Asked Ali about Matteo topper and he has managed something. Dropped off the tea and went to find a lounge to sit until show time. Rock Royalty tonight. Another night when the women are gussied up. Saw a few men in suits, too. The show was good. I think I may have seen a version of it before. There are 14 in the cast. All dance but there are four main singers and two others that sang. They ended the show with We are the World, which I remembered from another cruise or two, it not on Seaside this time. After the show I had my dessert gelato and people watched Back in the cabin for an early night. Busy day tomorrow.

I asked for an egg crate on Seaside and maybe she really didn’t know what I wanted because she just put another topper on the bed. Hardly helped. I will ask, but I have two in the back of my car and can get one tomorrow. Belowj is the letter of instructions for turnaround day. I will stay on to be processed and then go to the car if necessary and not have to stay off until noon. I am back from a jaunt off the ship to Ocean Cay. Purpose was more pictures…I will post later as they are in my phone and I am on my iPad, and they don’t sync with the cloud very well when on the ship. I went as far as the Seakers food court but didn’t go in. I had no plans to eat but thought those in line would object if I just walked past them to look… I circled around and went to lighthouse point. Then it was back to the ship. Weather is lovely, though hot if not in shade. There is a nice breeze and I had to grab my hat and tie it down… Back onboard I went straight up to the buffet and had some salad. Now I am back in the cabin…typing on my iPad. I feel a nap approaching…

You are looking at an apple, and an orange. Carnival Legend will transit the old locks, linger on Gatun Lake and return back out of the same locks. No excursions will be offered. The Beyond will transit the new locks to Gatun Lake and linger while tendering off those taking excursions. Sanhedrin will then return by the same locks and dock in Colon to retrieve those from excursions. There are also big differences in the ships. Legend is much smaller and has traditional balconies. There are very few traditional balconies on Beyond. She has what are called Infinite verandah cabins. Some like, some hate. They have a floor to ceiling window where the upper portion is lowered to create the balcony. Read about them on the Celebrity board. EM

I was on Elation last month and they were not. I had to hang my motion activated nightlight on the doorframe. EM