island lady

I agree...used to love the DL for the "birds of a feather" gathering, and the great service of the waiters who knew your preferences. Lovely place for happy hour...many years ago. Then...unfortunately the former lovely DL had already begun to change dramatically even before the vouchers came out. They were getting horribly over crowded with so many retiring baby boomers only needing 80 points to gain access. No seats to be had when it opened (many went in early to camp out to save chairs). Some DLs had pax waiting in a long line at the drink station, since it got too busy to wait tables. With no place to sit, many were taking their drinks out of the lounge to find a seat. It became a nightmare in there. I happen to love the voucher system. It has done it's job to clear out some space in the tiny DLs (that are getting smaller with each new ship). Though I only use the lounges for coffee in the morning now.

They were propped open when we boarded in Barcelona on embarkation day before the Nov. TA...and like you mentioned were really propped open too much during the cruise. On sea days the wanderers just walked in, even those not in a suite. Mostly it seemed during our 4 weeks that suite pax were leaving them open. They are not auto close like the other Oasis class, you have to pull them back shut. We were happy to be on the opposite hallway through the other set of glass doors. Way less foot traffic over there. Have the same cabin, 1770, booked again for our B2B in October. Nice cabin. 🙂

I am looking at 2025, but want NE/St. Lawrence Seaway/Great Lakes combo. Used to have that, but not seeing it in 2025. Could be due to new NW passage with Octantis mid summer (which we are on).

We are booked for the St. Lawrence Seaway out of Toronto, then out to the NW passage and Greenland July 2025 on Expedition ship Octantis, but would still like to do coastal NE...then into the Seaway and through Great Lakes. Shame they got ride of that route. Now it's just the Great Lakes.

LOL...not a fan at all of the bionic bar (of which you cannot use your vouchers, BTW)....I like a "real" bartender. But we do love to take a couple of rides with a couple of drinks on the rising tide bar. Cute gimic...something different to do, and included in our "bar hoping". We don't use the lounges for drinks. And six vouchers 🤪per person per day...is plenty for us.

I would still like to see them return to the NE and then travel up through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. They used to have those...but nothing since. 😞

Exactly the type of things I went through (and in my case worse) that I suffered due to the lack of service I went through with two different agents. Sure I might miss out of some OBC or minor perks...but being my own agent puts me in direct control. Worth it. 🙂

Diamonds, Diamond+, and Pinnacle all have matching loyalty level equal to Celebrity's Elite (like Diamond on RCI). Higher status has to be earned on Celebrity cruises.

Thanks! Great idea....though I would have to apply for unemployment benefits if I fired myself. Then again, I work for peanuts. 😄

Me too. Though booking two quarter segments, equaling 1/2 of the whole WC...apparently we are going to be treated like a single 17 mini segment. Poop happens I guess. Like you, very much looking forward to the unique itineraries. 🙂

You were lucky to find a good TA. Unfortunately, did not work that way for me. 😞 Burned twice...gave up.

I didn't. After bad experiences with lackluster/lazy TAs.....I found I could do a better job of it myself. I do a LOT of research online. I am retired...so it became my "job" to make our own plans. The planning (and dreaming) ended up being a big part of the fun. Gives me something to do in my off times. My hubby has been very happy with our homebased "TA" for the last 15 years. 😉

Ah...Ok then. In my perfect world we would have a Viking ship home based in Port Canaveral Florida. 😄

The little drones are a new upgrade to original show we saw on Odyssey. It's pretty cool...definitely geared to the kids (or the kid in you) but fun! Hint: Sit just in front of the control box on the main floor. Drones and flying bad guy will be right over your head. 😄

LOL...Happy Wife...Happy Life! 😄

One of the first things I do is to take that coffee machine off the counter in our suite and stash it down below somewhere. Space stealer things they are, of which I never use. And yes, the tray always had a creamers (different with each ship we were on). I bring on our travel coffee mugs, that live in our suitcase. Early morning I hit the SL/CL to fill up in a paper cup, then transfer to the mugs. Much easier to bring back to sleepy head in the cabin that way.

In all the prep I have seen in the CL/SL/DL....it is always whole milk. Various different containers...but always whole milk.

Works for me....errr...as long as the coffee machine works. And of course that would never be out of service now would it? 😉 😄

I do wish they had the breakfast burritos and/or the breakfast power wrap like they have the in MDR. I am assuming I could ask for them, but don't want the crew to have to fuss with special requests.

I use Fat Free 1/2 and 1/2 at home. And have no problem with the whole milk they use in the machines in the CL/SL.

Was simply lucky to stumble onto the newest itinerary for Octantis to come out....the 26 night NW passage out of Toronto in July 2025. Even being out just 3 days, the ship is booking up quickly. Happy I found it when I did. 🙂

I am not looking forward to dining set up on the WC. It is all MTD, no traditional dining offered. Or at least that is what we have been told.

Indeed we enjoyed Chops on Serenade as well. Navigator is the only Voyager class ship I have not been on.

Thanks! Really looking forward to it! 🙂

😄 Indeed...Bucky loves his Drambuie after dinner most nights.