Mrs_Tiki

@KKB, thank you for taking the time to do this great trip report. It was fun to relive the memories of our fantastic cruise, although like you, I regret not seeing more of @GenerationX@mac_tlc@Silkroad and @Irishredhead21.

I know that @mac_tlc will be with DH and me on the Ascent in January. Anyone else?

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Were there any bars on the ship open besides the Pool Bar when you were in GC?

No disruption of bar service in The Retreat at all. But all of the other bars that we passed during this time, including Eden, World Class, Sunset Bar, and Craft Social, had signs indicating that they were closed due to local customs regulations.
 

Interestingly, when we had lunch at Eden Cafe and asked where I might get a glass of wine, the bartender said that they could go to the Pool Bar and get one for me. I declined because I didn’t want to put him to that trouble. But when he returned with an order for someone else he also brought a glass for me. Bravo!

Happy to report that we are having minimal noise issues on Beyond this week, cabin 10108. On our second night, leaving Nassau and sailing through the Florida Straights, we did experience some creaking and popping noises in the cabin. But nothing that a set of earplugs could not negate. We have not experienced any issues thereafter.

Compared to our experience in Apex 10200 two years ago, this is nothing. That cabin had a steady creak/squeak no matter what the sea conditions. (And that is why we now always travel with earplugs!)

All that to say, based on our current experience, we would not hesitate to book Beyond again.

On Beyond now. Two day turnaround on Elite laundry service in The Retreat..

Happy to report that we are having minimal noise issues on Beyond this week, cabin 10108. On our second night, leaving Nassau and sailing through the Florida Straights, we did experience some creaking and popping noises in the cabin. But nothing that a set of earplugs could not negate. We have not experienced any issues thereafter.

Compared to our experience in Apex 10200 two years ago, this is nothing. That cabin had a steady creak/squeak no matter what the sea conditions. (And that is why we now always travel with earplugs!)

All that to say, based on our current experience, we would not hesitate to book Beyond again.

Oh my, I am sorry to hear that this continues. We will board on Sunday, and this reminds me to pack earplugs!

Thank you for taking time to share this excellent review. We sailed in YC on Seascape the week of March 18, and our experience was virtually identical, with the exception of butler service. Our butler Gusti provided the best service we have ever experienced!

We were glad to have the opportunity to try MSC, but will likely stick with Celebrity in the future.

I am betting that the only thing better than following along on one of Charla's reviews is actually being on a cruise with her! Can't wait to meet you on Sunday, safe travels!

1 hour ago, LoungerOnBalcony55 said:

What did your butler say to you when you asked? 

Wrote it on a list with our other special requests, of which there were very few, just the lounger, an extra bath towel, and a few Coke Zeros for the mini-bar. We received the Cokes, but no lounger, and ZERO bath towels at evening turndown. Not a great start, but things have improved. The lounger was less important to me than having at least one bath towel each!

On Seascape now - the bartender in the YC Topsail Lounge noted that if DH wanted to upgrade to a top shelf bourbon, he could just pay the difference.

I am on Seascape in a regular YC balcony cabin. There is room on the balcony for a lounger, and I asked, but did not receive.

32 minutes ago, LewiLewi said:

We will be taking our first cruise on the Seascape YC in a few weeks. I would appreciate it if you could answer a few questions about dining in the Yacht Club.

- Are there shared tables for people who may want to dine with others that they are not traveling with and as a way to meet new people? 

- Is there a buffet available in the YC for lunch?

-Are you able to eat in specialty restaurants outside of the YC without an extra charge; if so which restaurants are they? 
- Does the butler make reservations for you to dine at these restaurants?

- Are in cabin menus available for breakfast and do they include hot food like omelets and bacon?

Thank you in advance

We are in YC on Seascape now. I think this is an unusual cruise due to it being spring break - 59 children in Yacht Club, so many family groups in the restaurant. 

I have not observed any shared tables such as you inquired about.

I don’t believe that YC guests may eat in specialty restaurants for free, but I do know that the concierge desk will assist with reservations and spa appointments. 
 

I have attached a photo of the breakfast menu we received in our suite. We have gone to the restaurant for breakfast, but there is also a really nice buffet on the YC pool deck.

edited to add: so sorry that the menu posted upside down - don’t know how to fix that!

27 minutes ago, tcmagnum said:

This right here!!!!!
Very nice!!!
Have a great cruise!!!

YES! Love the matching map dresses! Gen Z is a doll!

Looking forward to your review, especially because I will be following along from the Seascape!

1 hour ago, L1211 said:

Oh boy, my DH is a collector/drinker (not collector/reseller) and we likely have 150 different bourbons- rotate through a bourbon table that holds maybe 60 bottles.  He shares almost everything… the Weller 12 year and Weller antique 107 are his favs and remain “put back” - ha!  Favorite day to day bourbons likely Weller SR green label.  Seems he’s a Weller guy! We go to Buffalo trace often and get allocated bourbon at retail - lucky to live nearby!!  

My daughter and son-in-law met at Centre, and he is from Winchester. Like your DH, he is a collector/drinker. Weller is a fave of his as well! Whenever we visit, he curates tasting flights from his collection - he is a keeper for sure!

On 3/14/2023 at 7:13 PM, L1211 said:

No Chardonnay at the YC lounge- I’m not kidding when I say it’s each time we order there is something they dont have …

Yikes! Like you, I am a Chardonnay girl. Sailing on Seascape on Sunday and hope they are better provisioned. (But glad to read that they made a favorable substitution for you!)

Loving this review, thank you for taking the time to post during your cruise.

So excited for another Charla review, with the extra bonus that we will get to meet her in person on the Beyond next month! 
 

I wholeheartedly agree with Charla’s (and others’) comments about knowing your child when planning a cruise experience. My parents took me on a transatlantic on the QE2 when I was 13 and made very clear their expectations regarding my behavior. Fast forward, our daughter enjoyed her first cruise at the age of 5 on Sea Princess, and we never looked back, choosing the right line for the right time in her life. Princess>Disney (one and done!)>Royal Caribbean>Celebrity>SeaDream.

Small digression here - early in her tween years, our dear daughter called us out for our involvement with CruiseCritic meet and greets. We had always told her that it was dangerous to meet people online and then arrange to meet up in person in real life. She noted that we were doing exactly that when we arranged sail away cocktails and shared shore excursions. (Good point, but always turned out great for us!)

I have only one experience with Move-Up, but mine showed pending until Friday morning before a Saturday sailing when I received an email notifying me that my bid was not successful.

Hope that your luck is better!

Have been following all day and adding my wishes that you make it in time! Go Peaches go, from another Georgia girl!

4 hours ago, GenerationX said:

O…M…G that is totally the Beyond April sailing that I’m on!!!

 

I also got alerted to the deal through CC and couldn’t resist the pricing. 
 

It’s going to be a fun sailing!

We are on that one also. Can’t wait to meet all of you!

So excited for another live with GenX review! It will help pass the time until we can be live with Charla for real on the Beyond!

15 hours ago, GenerationX said:

And just like that, my “fun money” funds from my annual bonus and the number of 2023 paid vacation days I have at work have just dropped significantly.  

Thanks so much for the heads up!

I so understand! We are sailing on MSC Seascape on March 19 and had not planned on another cruise until the fall when the ships return from the Med. But this is too good to pass up. We are pretending it is a back to back with a two-week intermission!

Having followed along on several of your "live from" reviews, I look forward to the opportunity to meet you and raise a glass together. I will be looking for the map dress in The Retreat Lounge on embarkation day!

2 hours ago, njsmom said:

wow, that is a great deal. Suite Guarantee where they choose is just $5,341 total for two people with all fees and $300 OBC pp and $250 OBC extra and this is 48 hrs after you posted. I wouldn't normally do a guaranteed room, but not like you'd get a bad suite.

 

currently a total of $5,871 with same OBC benefits if you choose your own sky suite, and $5,612 total with all fees if you choose your own aqua sky suite.

 

too bad I don't have time to go on this cruise!

Thanks to the OP for alerting us to this bargain fare! Although I didn't catch on early enough to get the fare he quoted, I did snag an Aqua Sky Suite for $5,612 for two, just a bit over the per person fare on other sailings!

DH (Tiki_Man) and I love the Sky Suites and Retreat on Edge class ships, but actually prefer Blu to Luminae, so this might be the best of both worlds for us! (Wonder why Aqua Sky Suites were less expensive than regular Sky Suites?)

An added benefit is the opportunity to sail with other CC members that have provided such helpful and entertaining posts over the years. Generation X, NorthStarStateCruiser, and mac_tlc, I'm talking about you!

Headed over to the Roll Calls to see who else is on board!

For us, absolutely yes! We have sailed in a Sky Suite on Apex and Royal Suite on Edge, and our experience in The Retreat on both ships was fantastic. We would likely not spend the extra money for anything beyond a Sky Suite in the future, as the Royal Suite was a splurge for a special occasion.

Last November, we returned to Apex and sailed in Aqua Class. While we loved Blu, we missed the quiet and extra TLC we had received in The Retreat. Just booked an Aqua Sky Suite on Beyond and expect that will be the best of both worlds!

It is great to hear that you are having such a fabulous time! 
 

I share your enthusiasm for the libraries on the S-class ships. One of my favorite memories is running out of my own books brought on board, most recently having finished The Paris Wife, a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s marriage to his first wife (who happens to share a name with our daughter). While perusing titles in the library, I came across a compilation of his letters and was able to read his own words from that same era about that relationship. 
 

Wow, rereading that makes me realize that I am a real nerd! But I do love Hiassen - SkinnyDip is my favorite, in large part due to its cruise theme!