Mardi Gras 9/4-11/21 Somewhat Live Thoughts and Information

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, KmomChicago said:

I enjoyed this as well. Unlike you I am not in very fit shape and I couldn’t force myself to step off the mini zip line step. 

Something to shoot for the next time you're on the ship. And if not, no worries. Life presents all kinds of challenges that strengthen us and make us a better person.

[kwokpot]

On 9/5/2021 at 3:39 PM, crewsweeper said:

kwokpot...just curious on how transportation and streets in Philly were for you leaving?  My friends at the Bachelors Barge Club were battening down the hatches and appears some took kayaks down the center of town.

What a great casino package you two got!  We get these offers all the time.  Unfortunately, they're addressed to a friend of my wife, who for what ever reason used our address for her mailings.  Tempted to change my wife's name to Amber so we can take advantage of them.😄

I live in a row house in Center City and luckily we aren't situated near the two rivers that surround Philly so we had no issues. But neighborhoods in Center City that are sdjcent to water were flooded,as well as one of the main highways that cut though the city. 

[crewsweeper]

7 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I live in a row house in Center City and luckily we aren't situated near the two rivers that surround Philly so we had no issues. But neighborhoods in Center City that are sdjcent to water were flooded,as well as one of the main highways that cut though the city. 

Thanks,  Glad you were safe and able to make the cruise.  Enjoying the review.

[Rollin Tide]

This whole 'Somewhat Live' thread is awesome!!  Thanks for doing this.  74 more days till we're on the Mardi Gras, so following your journey is getting me even more anxious.

[kwokpot]

Final evening thoughts Day 3:

The Center Stage Band and vocalists are top notch and I enjoyed their evening performances. From the sound of the applause and cheers they are very well liked on this cruise. There was supposed to be a big deck party at 10:00pm but I was listening to the music at Grand Central band didn't make it up until past 11. The deck was drenched in rain and there was no one in sight so I can only assume it was cancelled because of rain.

 

I went back down and checked out Brass Magnolia Bar for the first time. The electronic violins were performing and I decided to try a whiskey based cocktail called Vieux Carre. A grown up drink for sure and not one you can knock back in a couple of minutes ( Well at least I can't) so I savored the flavors of the added ingredients to the whiskey. The bar wasn't too busy but I was just fine enjoying my drink and a couple of chats with other passengers. Then it was bedtime

Edited September 7, 2021 by kwokpot

[kwokpot]

Update morning Day 4:

We were awaken to the knock of Room Service delivering coffee that Robert had ordered for us. It was way early, but that was ok. The thermal carafes keep the coffee nice and hot for hours. The ship docked on time at Costa Maya but we had no plans on getting off the ship. This first cruise since the shutdown was about being onboard, not the ports of call. Having said that if we were stopping in Aruba I would have gotten off and done a beach day. Love the beaches in Aruba!

 

We went to the Lido Marketplace for breakfast and trying to eat a healthy breakfast I had a bowl of oatmeal and a hard boiled egg.  Robert had the eggs Benedict. After breakfast I went back to the room to change to go sit out and sun at Serenity. Robert would be reading in the room. In the Serenity area it seems most people gravitate to the pool and surrounding areas. If you want to avoid people there tons of loungers and those round daybeds all the way forward past the Serenity pool. The weather was partly sunny so just fine for sunning. After a couple of hours I headed to the spa to rinse off and use the thermal suite a little bit before lunch. 

 

Lunch was at the Lido Marketplace again. I decided the Shawarma was so good yesterday that I had the same thing today, and again taking some cooked veggies as a side dish. Robert had two hot dogs and he enjoyed them. FYI the hot dogs are cooked in a cast iron skillet.

 

We went down to Bar Della Rosa for a Latte and fancy tea. I enjoyed that on our balcony while Robert relaxed in bed reading. Now it's time for thermal suite relaxing and then a workout before dinner. 

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2021 by kwokpot

[SNJCruisers]

2 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Having said that if we were stopping in Aruba I would have gotten off and done a beach day. Love the beaches in Aruba!

When we visited Aruba on our last Carnival Cruise in August of 2019, we went on an excursion through Trikes Aruba.  It was a small group of automatic chopper style 3 wheeled motorcycles that held 2 people.  Something that may interest you the next time you stop there on a cruise.

[RoperDK]

On 9/5/2021 at 2:14 PM, crewsweeper said:

I don't ever remember loungers being allowed on balconies, so good luck if you get one!

We've had them either already on the balcony or delivered by the cabin steward.  We always tip, but it wasn't really expected.  These were extended balconies or suite balconies.  So nice to take a nap on! 

[jimbo5544]

12 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

We've had them either already on the balcony or delivered by the cabin steward.  We always tip, but it wasn't really expected.  These were extended balconies or suite balconies.  So nice to take a nap on! 

Aft wraps have them also

[kwokpot]

2 hours ago, RoperDK said:

We've had them either already on the balcony or delivered by the cabin steward.  We always tip, but it wasn't really expected.  These were extended balconies or suite balconies.  So nice to take a nap on! 

Came back from dinner to find a lounger on the balcony! The cabin attendant apologized for taking so long but he said he had to get approval to make sure it's within fire code.

[kwokpot]

Update Afternoon and Evening Day 4:

 

Had some nice conversation in the Spa sauna ( Apparently it was unofficial guys only afternoon since there were no women present ) and then off for my regular afternoon workout. It was the busiest afternoon so far with about 10 people using the Fitness center.

 

Dinner was full of issues tonight. At 7:10pm the app wasn't working for YTD reservations so we had to go in person. We wanted to try Cucina again and they were able to seat us right away. But they wanted to seat us sandwiched between a table of four on one side and another two table on the other. We said no and asked for another location. They gave us a four table so the spacing was fine. Only to later realize that the AC was blowing right at our table. 

 

Service was slow and the restaurant was noisy and chaotic. People were yelling across the aisles to chat with others and some tables were being inappropriately loud. The food was fine but as my previous comment about Cucina nothing outstanding. After finishing our entrees seventy minutes after being seated we were ready to skip dessert because we were so cold from the AC blowing directly at us in addition to loud and uncouth diners adjacent to us.

 

We decided to go to Bar Della Rosa for a double Expresso and we sat outside to warm ourselves. It was quite nice outside with a wind blowing.

 

We went up to the Lido Marketplace to get some dessert and ended up bringing cookies and tea back to the cabin to enjoy.

No bar or cocktails tonight, just staying in and relaxing.

 

As previously mentioned when we returned to our cabin we found a lounger on our balcony as we had requested. The cabin attendant was still servicing other cabins so I thanked him for his efforts. He actually apologized for taking so long to get the lounger but he said he needed approval for fire code safety. 

[kwokpot]

Cabin #9363 extended balcony with requested lounger on balcony (overlooking Mahagony Bay, Roatan)

[crewsweeper]

12 hours ago, RoperDK said:

We've had them either already on the balcony or delivered by the cabin steward.  We always tip, but it wasn't really expected.  These were extended balconies or suite balconies.  So nice to take a nap on! 

Guess we're used to "slumming" on regular balconies.  Do like the Havana Lanais on the Horizon and Vista.  

[DGP1111]

On 9/6/2021 at 11:04 PM, kwokpot said:

Trying a new drink in a new bar. The Brass Magnolia Bar and a cocktail named Vieux Carre; Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Hennessy VSOP Cognac, Cinzano 1757 Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud's Bitters, Angostura Bitters. Grownup cocktail. I like the additional subtle flavors besides the whiskey. It packs a punch!

 

The only times I try this style of beverage is during a cruise.  Thanks for the recommendation. 

On several ships I've found that some of the Alchemy bartenders will create their own small batch of infused liquors (in addition to those few visible at the bar) so it might not hurt to ask if any of them have done so.  I said Eww to one when it was first described, yet it turned out to be the very best over several years. 

Edited September 8, 2021 by DGP1111

[d-train]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Cabin #9363 extended balcony with requested lounger on balcony (overlooking Mahagony Bay, Roatan)

 

Awesome! Maybe it will still be there for us...

And now we know it is allowed too!

 

[magictam]

On 9/4/2021 at 1:37 PM, kwokpot said:

Thermal suite pass is $179/7day/1 person. 

If I remember correctly it was $129 before boarding? Or was it $149?

I’m only three post in an already finding a wealth of information. I have a spa cabin but I was wondering if the spa has a tholossil (so) pool or just a regular hot tub. 

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, DGP1111 said:

 

The only times I try this style of beverage is during a cruise.  Thanks for the recommendation. 

On several ships I've found that some of the Alchemy bartenders will create their own small batch of infused liquors (in addition to those few visible at the bar) so it might not hurt to ask if any of them have done so.  I said Eww to one when it was first described, yet it turned out to be the very best over several years. 

Have not seen you post in a while

[kwokpot]

38 minutes ago, magictam said:

I’m only three post in an already finding a wealth of information. I have a spa cabin but I was wondering if the spa has a tholossil (so) pool or just a regular hot tub. 

It's a jetted therolassotherapy pool. 

[magictam]

28 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

It's a jetted therolassotherapy pool. 

Thank you very much

 

[crewsweeper]

21 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

It's a jetted therolassotherapy pool. 

Pictures look like the jacuzzi pools on the Vista and Horizon, vs the  thalassotherapy pools on the Dream, Magic and Breeze.  But I guess they can call it what ever they want.

[kwokpot]

2 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Pictures look like the jacuzzi pools on the Vista and Horizon, vs the  thalassotherapy pools on the Dream, Magic and Breeze.  But I guess they can call it what ever they want.

 

[kwokpot]

2 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3021

[crewsweeper]

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3021

Appreciate the picture.  But the one in the article linked...That's a thalassotherapy pool, IMO.

[canes20]

What exactly is the mask policy on board and is it being enforced? Are masks required if sitting in loungers by the pool? Thank you

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, canes20 said:

What exactly is the mask policy on board and is it being enforced? Are masks required if sitting in loungers by the pool? Thank you

Mask wearing is required indoors in places as the elevators, theaters, hallways, casino,while walking into a restaurant. They are not required on the pool deck, although the employees wear them all the time. Enforcement is not draconian and I haven't seen passengers harass each other one way or another regarding masks. Sometimes people will be in an elevator and realize the don't have a mask and will pull up their shirt to cover their mouth s. Sometimes people don't have one on and don't care. 

For me it's not really an issue. It hasn't affected my enjoyment of the cruise. If there's a situation where I feel uncomfortable regarding Covid, such as lasts night's dinner when they wanted to seat us too close to other passengers,we take ourselves out of the situation.