Havana Daydreamin Back 2 Back on Serenade NOLA "LIVE"

[Havana Daydreamin]

I believe that the count of consecutive cruisers at the meeting yesterday was 62.

 

I don't know if that stayed the same or not.

 

We have surrendered our previous card for the moment and waiting for Mr & Mrs Crawford to arrive.

 

Staff jokingly said we should "boo them". Everyone is in good humor!!!

[Janet524]

Are all the issues with the damaged staterooms resolved? Hoping that everyone can board today. We will be on the western Caribbean sailing in 6 weeks and are looking forward to reading your reviews and seeing the cruise compasses from the western leg of the trip. Thank you for taking the time to post the lovely pictures and providing updates of the onboard situation.

[stones902]

Forgive me but I have another question for you...actually my wife has a question for you....I thought I read somewhere a while back that RCI might have removed those shampoo / body wash dispensers from the showers in favor of the individual bottles. Can you tell us if that's the case?

 

Not that it matters to me but my wife has LONG hair. If she needs those individual bottles it takes 4 of them just to shampoo her hair once. She wants to know because if that's the case we'll just pick up a big bottle of shampoo before we board. Thanks again!

 

 

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[truffles2]

Forgive me but I have another question for you...actually my wife has a question for you....I thought I read somewhere a while back that RCI might have removed those shampoo / body wash dispensers from the showers in favor of the individual bottles. Can you tell us if that's the case?

 

Not that it matters to me but my wife has LONG hair. If she needs those individual bottles it takes 4 of them just to shampoo her hair once. She wants to know because if that's the case we'll just pick up a big bottle of shampoo before we board. Thanks again!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

We had a dispenser in our tub/shower earlier this month.

[stones902]

We had a dispenser in our tub/shower earlier this month.

 

 

Since you had a tub / shower I would assume you were in a cat JS or higher?

 

Ours is just a standard balcony with the clamshell type shower.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[beachseasand]

Well caught up to you and just enjoying tagging along. Love your beautiful aft photos. Such a dream. Have a wonderful journey.

[Paulette3028]

A request for anyone continuing on Serenade as part of a B2B (or anyone else just joining the ship), who is the Activities Manager replacing Katrina Blair?

[tkit]

That is such a shame. We were all reading about the cancelled staterooms, and we were so sorry to hear and read about what happened. :( But welcome to Cruise Critic! I hope you will give cruising another try, with the savings from this disappointment.

 

 

We certainly aren't through with cruising, but it remains to be seen whether there are any savings from this disappointment. Cost of travel to NOLA from Austin equaled half of our cruise fare.

 

Our first, and only, cruise was on Navigator/Royal Caribbean, and it was very good. But now, RCI is only batting one for two, and they aren't willing to give us anything by way of loyalty incentive to keep us aboard, not even the sailing days. We (briefly) considered the Feb 1 sailing of Serenade, but we would have had to cancel other commitments, stay a week in New Orleans in a hotel, and any compensation/refund we may get would not have applied to any of it.

 

Our next attempt will only be from Galveston, where we can go without needing hotel accommodations.

Edited January 31, 2015 by tkit
rephrasing

[Jiminy1955]

This has been a great read. Really enjoy your writing style & all the pictures, including the compasses. I am anxiously awaiting this weeks postings since we will be on this same itinerary on the Feb 28th sailing....all 14 of us :eek:

 

And my first trip to NOLA! :)

[Havana Daydreamin]

I will have more commentary later, but all was quite smooth and efficient today just like it normally is.

 

Here is the "Mustard Drill":D

 

Then with much thanks to my Sister in snowing Nebraska these pictures of sailaway on the port webcam.

 

 

Edited January 31, 2015 by Havana Daydreamin

[Havana Daydreamin]

Forgive me but I have another question for you...actually my wife has a question for you....I thought I read somewhere a while back that RCI might have removed those shampoo / body wash dispensers from the showers in favor of the individual bottles. Can you tell us if that's the case?

 

Not that it matters to me but my wife has LONG hair. If she needs those individual bottles it takes 4 of them just to shampoo her hair once. She wants to know because if that's the case we'll just pick up a big bottle of shampoo before we board. Thanks again!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

We are in a JS and have the dispenser, but I cannot speak about your cabin category.

 

Sorry

[misha1]

Muster was outside?

[Havana Daydreamin]

The day has been simply marvelous.

 

We arrived into NOLA in timely fashion and I believe most people were off the ship at roughly 9 AM with a few exceptions. However, that is because we had so many missing from last cruise.

 

Guest Services indicated that this was a full sailing and there were no upgrades. We did seem some folks who were bumped from line last week, on board today so that would seem to indicate that all the affected cabins were likely in service.

 

YAHOO!

 

I was able to leave before 10:30 and take care of my parking. That was kind of an inconvenience, but I can live with it. It was a bit of a wait to get back on as I hit a major rush and then had people who did not have their documents correct, missing passports, and you name it.

 

It took about an hour to get back on and I was already checked in.

 

I believe the biggest delay was because for awhile they only had one security officer on the ship taking your picture for your seapass.

 

But I was on and enjoyed a delicious lunch in the main dining room, followed by purchasing our drink package (which was quite well used and didn't owe us anything last week) for the upcoming week.

 

A delightlful La Gloria Cubano Serie R was enjoyed prior to Muster and then a rush to the cabin to enjoy a bottle of wine (La Croisade Reserve Cabernet - Syrah 2013 Oak Aged) on the balcony in our Reidel stemless wine glasses. (A reward of not flying this time)

 

We are feeling so blessed last week as the skies are hazy and the photo ops not as striking as last week.

 

Tonight's dinner is Chops. We enjoyed Chops with Dad & Mom last week and are doing a repeat tonight. I can't wait to have the Candied Peppered Bacon (or something like that) tonight. Dad had it last week and I could have fallen out of my chair it was so tasty looking!

 

Maybe later I can get today's Cruise Compass out. If not, tomorrow on a sea day.

 

Thanks to EVERYONE for your kindness and for following along. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do bringing it to you!

 

Super Bowl is tomorrow! I can't wait to see what they do for that event!

[sweetcruiser106]

Enjoy this cruise. I hope this leg is just as amazing.

Anne:)

[Havana Daydreamin]

Muster was outside?

 

 

For us it was on both legs.

[Havana Daydreamin]

Just a couple more pictures of our experiences today.

 

It is a bit of fun to see it differently than last week.

 

 

The wine is actually quite tasty having come all the way from Jacob's Liquor in Wichita, KS. Howdy, Tom!

 

Simply amazing how much this river turns for quite some ways as I took this about an hour and a half from departure.

 

[Havana Daydreamin]

You know, it seemed so simple....

 

Set the wine glass down on the table to walk across the cabin and by the time you turn around those dang towel animals had soaked up a lot of wine out of that glass!

 

I think it was the duck!

 

He seems a bit wobbly!:D

[cricketts]

You know, it seemed so simple....

 

Set the wine glass down on the table to walk across the cabin and by the time you turn around those dang towel animals had soaked up a lot of wine out of that glass!

 

I think it was the duck!

 

He seems a bit wobbly!:D

I love it :D:D

Thanks again for your "live" thread. I really appreciate your wonderful commentaries and a marvelous sense of humor! I'm looking forward to continuing to sail with you this week :)

[littlemooshy]

Do you ever go to the casino? I was wondering how those slot, poker, and blackjack tournaments worked and what your experience (if any) was with any of those? (or casino in general)

 

Thanks

 

I just got off the Serenade and promised Havana Daydreaming I would fill you in about the casino! The slots tourney is a $25 buy in and top 10 scores go to the finals (I was in the finals and finished fifth, lady luck was not on my side!). The black jack tournament is played at a $20 buy in. Depending on the amount of players you will play rounds until the final 7 seats are named. The first time we played we only had 5 people and this little lady won! The poker is a $75 buy in and $40 buy in, with enough players they will award a free cruise to the winner. Again, this is played in rounds and the final was on friday at 2 pm. I don't think there was enough players for the free cruise, but they still awarded cash prizes. Dona in the casino bar is amazing and if you happen to meet her, tell her Hearin sent you. (I hope she restocked the gray goose for you!)

 

 

 

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[Mango Tango]

 

 

 

The pool side seems a bit empty but everyone is enjoying. I expect we are seeing the effects of so many missing passengers.

 

Enjoy the tidbit of poolside life.

 

 

I see my Son and Daughter in Law sitting on the edge of the pool with their legs and feet in the water. :)

Edited February 1, 2015 by Mango Tango

[NightOne]

I just got off the Serenade and promised Havana Daydreaming I would fill you in about the casino! The slots tourney is a $25 buy in and top 10 scores go to the finals (I was in the finals and finished fifth, lady luck was not on my side!). The black jack tournament is played at a $20 buy in. Depending on the amount of players you will play rounds until the final 7 seats are named. The first time we played we only had 5 people and this little lady won! The poker is a $75 buy in and $40 buy in, with enough players they will award a free cruise to the winner. Again, this is played in rounds and the final was on friday at 2 pm. I don't think there was enough players for the free cruise, but they still awarded cash prizes. Dona in the casino bar is amazing and if you happen to meet her, tell her Hearin sent you. (I hope she restocked the gray goose for you!)

 

 

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks for all the info!

 

So there is a $40 buy in poker tournament and a $75 buy in tournament too?

[littlemooshy]

Thanks for all the info!

 

So there is a $40 buy in poker tournament and a $75 buy in tournament too?

 

It's a $75 buy in and a $40 re-buy.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Forums mobile app

[Havana Daydreamin]

The departure from New Orleans was on schedule and very smooth to the apparent delight of each passenger on the Serenade of the Seas this week.

 

The morning sun on the Mississippi was in full force early in the day. The skies were hazy and not bright at the time of departure. Once again, I was reminded that though last weeks departure did not go as planned, we certainly enjoyed a special day of sailing down the river.

 

 



 



 



 

[Havana Daydreamin]

We enjoyed a bit of Tropical Duo in the Centrum last evening. The crowd this week is a bit younger than last week and you could tell as already on the first night a woman had to go up on stage with the Tropical Duo to dance and sing along. People were definitely having a good time all afternoon and into the evening.

 

As were we!!!:D

[Havana Daydreamin]

Our evening turned toward Chops. Isabel was our server again and was splendid! We both enjoyed the bacon, the warm goat cheese salad (Barbara who does not prefer goat cheese found it to be appetizing with the combination of tastes in the salad), the braised short rib and the seared tuna, followed by dessert of the warm liquid center chocolate cake.