Live(ish) from Millennium 11-11 (Lest We Forget)

[DCPIV]

In fact, I owe a great debt of gratitude to @twins_to_alaska both for reaching out to me in Luminae and then listening to my rambling for far too long. Thank you! 

[twins_to_alaska]

Thanks for the invitation to sit and socialize. Enjoyed hearing your stories. 

I've got over 15K steps walking around the uncrowded ship taking pictures. All the crew are so welcoming and I've enjoyed chatting with them today. There was an issue with the retreat sundeck electronic access so they turned it off. Not sure if that got fixed. 

[twins_to_alaska]

 

 

Luminae lunch. The bronzino was previously recommended and I'll add another thumbs up. Substituted in potatoes for the eggplant. Hardly ever say no to chocolate.

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by twins_to_alaska

[twins_to_alaska]

Luminae at start of dinner. I'm not a big drinker but asked Jelena (Toni, one of the retreat concierges, told me pronounced Yelena) the sommelier for a small taste of something to go with my pork belly and duck, for which I again substituted potatoes. 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by twins_to_alaska

[twins_to_alaska]

Quiet day. Was looking at CruiseMapper for position and saw Disney Magic nearby so went out on balcony to see her. We're headed toward Celebrity Summit.

[twins_to_alaska]

I went and checked out Oceanview after lunch, dinner, and breakfast. My gosh, they have tons of choices. Had a piece of dragon fruit and slice of brie after lunch. Stopped at Cafe al Bacio after dinner for a tiny chocolate raspberry tart and after breakfast for a mini almond croissant (passed on the pastries in Luminae).

 

I went walking on the track but added in going up the stairs and around the aft Rooftop Terrace and also upstairs and around Retreat Sundeck to each loop. The Retreat access still not working so the gate was propped open with one of the Purell dispensers (which are everywhere). Then spent 15 minutes doing cardio/strength in the empty basketball court. Nice breeze but humid. 8K steps and 95 zone minutes so hopefully that will help toward the calorie consumption.

 

Thanks to Jim's blog I pre-asked for a kettle. At home I microwave an eye mask each morning to combat blepharitis but in a pinch I heat it in hot water in a small Rubbermaid container. In the past I've had carafe of hot water delivered in morning but so nice to have kettle to do on my schedule.

[twins_to_alaska]

Pool before lunch.

 

 

Near Cafe al Bacio there was a competitive game of cornhole.

 

[twins_to_alaska]

Tried some of the Luminae burger and truffle fries for lunch. Didn't love it, but I did leave off the Bacon-Onion jam. The Broiled Feta Salad with arugula, asparagus, fresh peas, and minted pesto was interesting and light and so green... although blue-tinged from the windows in Luminae.

 

 

 

I'd heard one could get Sushi on 5 to go. It wasn't busy when I ordered at 12:36 but when I was waiting DCPIV arrived and was turned away for lunch, had to make a reservation for later in the week.

 

 

I brought the shrimp and lobster wontons back to my balcony. I'd get again.

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by twins_to_alaska

[OhioCraig]

On 11/10/2021 at 7:55 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Is that the 1st reported case on Millennium for the Panama Canal?   From the cruises I have done with 1-3 cases nothing much was different except for those that had contact traced.  Unless something changed if you contact trace and are on a B2B you are not allowed to continue.

Jim, 

I was also on the Panama Canal crossing and yes it was just the one passenger at the end of the cruise. They were a Canadian passenger. They didn’t have any symptoms and was only discovered due to the Covid  test that they needed to take to fly home. 

[DCPIV]

Thanks for keeping the live review going! 

 

It's been a quiet day on Lake Millennium. 

 

I enjoyed sleeping in this morning and then some quality balcony time. There's nothing like a shady balcony while underway, and I'm loathe to waste it. 

 

After that, I had a magnificent massage and grabbed a detox smoothie before lunch. Gotta make room for all those, lovely, delicious toxins to come! 

 

As reported earlier, I was turned away at Sushi on 5 because I didn't have a reservation. I didn't see that coming! Frankly, I'm glad to see them so busy. I think I even smiled a little when the Maitre d' told me that. So, I made a reservation for lunch on the final day and bebopped down to Luminae for a nice piece of salmon and great view of Cuba. 

 

 

That's the same view from the window but taken from out on the deck.

 

I've been enjoying a Newkie Brown at the pool since and chatting with folks about this and that. Things certainly are returning to normal. Someone finally sat in the hot tub that was empty for nearly 30 minutes! 

 

There has been a hiccup, though. My spa appointment for tomorrow was moved from 3 PM to 11:45 AM. That means I have to choose between my snorkeling trip and the spa, as there was no other suitable time to reschedule. I must be honest and say that I kinda want to sleep in again, anyhow, so this is something of a blessing in disguise. 

 

[DCPIV]

 

What was it Thurber said about Martinis? One is just right, two is too many, and three is not enough. 

 

James Thurber never went on a cruise ship, did he? If he did, he'd know there's no such thing as "too many" and "not enough" while cruising. 😉

[DCPIV]

I meant to mention this yesterday, but Millennium has a better windowed area in the Retreat Lounge than Summit does. You're still in the mostly utilitarian bar area, but you don't feel like you're sitting at the kids' table.

 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, OhioCraig said:

Jim, 

I was also on the Panama Canal crossing and yes it was just the one passenger at the end of the cruise. They were a Canadian passenger. They didn’t have any symptoms and was only discovered due to the Covid  test that they needed to take to fly home. 

Thanks   I think this is the new norm.   On the 4 cruises we took there were 3 on first, one on 2n't and 3rd cruise and none on the last Millennium prior to the Canal.

[DCPIV]

Good morning from Café al Bacio!

 

We're in Cozumel, today, but I'm just staying on board, as I did choose the quieter day and spa over snorkeling. That was easily taken care of. I went to the Retreat Lounge and handed my ticket to Patricia (one of the Concierges). A few moments later, the excursion was cancelled and refunded. No worries at all. 

 

Last night was a quieter night, as well. Dinner in Luminae was simple and pleasant. In lieu of dessert, I popped into the Rendezvous Lounge for a bit of music and Fernet Branca. My plan was to try and catch the USA v. Mexico World Cup qualifier in the Casino Bar, but I started feeling a little tired, so it was just back to the room. 

 

Well, not straight back. I had to stop by Cellar Masters. Just had to, y'know? I grabbed a Johnny Walker Blue, something I do every several years or so just to see if I'm ever impressed by it. Cruising is a good time for it because the upcharge tends to be relatively inexpensive.

 

I think it's been a little more than 5 years since I last tried some. Yeah, I still don't get it. My Highland Park 12 is just as good and more to my liking, and it's 1/4th the price of JW Blue. 

 

So, back to the room to catch the game. DW and I chatted a little, and I got comfy on the couch with that Highland Park. The next thing I know, it's nearly midnight. The match is over, and sailing is on the TV. It seems I was more tired than I thought! 🤣 I felt it best to enjoy the rest of what would be a good night's sleep in bed. 

 

It's been a nice, slow morning. I've had my espresso and croissant. Spa time is a little more than an hour away. Today promises to be a good one. 

[DCPIV]

Oh, I meant to note a few other things that are different on Millennium from Summit. First and foremost, there's a full length mirror in the suite, and it's right where we thought they ought to have one on Summit. 

 

 

Doesn't that make sense? 

 

The room also has a cleaner, less cluttered feel to it. A lot of those tchotchkes are either gone or less conspicuously placed. There are none on the bathroom shelves at all. 

 

But there must be balance in all things. The safe is down about at knee level and in a cabinet. 

 

 

I don't much care for that. While I'm not likely to leave the ship without taking my stuff from the safe, it's still more likely to happen when it's hidden behind a door. However, the much larger issue is that I have to crouch down to open and close the thing. Now, I'm fine with crouching and hope to be for at least a few years, but many are not. It's much better located on the chest level shelf (as it was on Summit).

 

I want to finish with something nice to say, and that's actually quite easy to do around here. Millennium is another lovely ship with another wonderful crew. It's good to be aboard.

[Jim_Iain]

Have to agree with you on the location of he safe's.    We were in an accessible SS recently and it was on a very low shelf (maybe for the accessible needs of those in a wheelchair.    The problem was the end table was so close you couldn't get the door more than 2/3 open.   If you were in a wheelchair I doubt you could get it in the space.     I moved the bed and side table a couple times and the housecleaner would move it back.

 

Maybe it would be different if it were configured as a twin instead of a queen bed.

[DCPIV]

All I can say that, if it was a mistake to choose spa over snorkeling, then it could only be a small mistake. That was quite nice. 

 

I wanted to grab a snack after, so I popped into Oceanview. I couldn't pass up the carvery. I asked for a small piece and got . . .

 

 

a good 14 ounces or so of rib roast and a couple tablespoons of horseradish.

 

I do love cruising. ❤ 

 

[GenerationX]

I am late to the party but thank you for the great report!  
 

I’m especially appreciative of the Summit vs. Millennium info.  I was in on Summit for the first time last month in a suite  and just booked a suite on Millennium for March (I also sail solo on Equinox in 5 days, I think I may have an addiction 😂) so it’s great to hear more about what to expect.

 

If you find time to share more of your thoughts on Retreat experience on Millennium vs. Summit I would love to hear more.

 

Enjoy the end of your cruise and safe travels!

[DCPIV]

5 hours ago, GenerationX said:

If you find time to share more of your thoughts on Retreat experience on Millennium vs. Summit I would love to hear more.

 

It's pretty much the same with subtle differences. Different crew of course, but the ships and what they offer are virtually identical. 

 

The food seemed better on Summit, but it's not like the food here isn't quite good. Variations also can be just because of supplies. Last night's rack of lamb was rather disappointing, though. Still, I managed, but I probably should have gone with the lamb chops from Blu. 

 

There are a few other differences in Luminae, as well. Summit had a true sommelier, Genesis, and she nearly always brought a list. Jelena on Millennium is a Wine Steward, although every bit as knowledgeable. I've never seen her bring a wine list to anyone, and I've asked. I don't know if they even have one. I honestly don't mind, though, as her suggestions have been excellent. 

 

So, I suppose I slightly prefer Summit, but I also don't mind the lack of mirror in the RS. 🤣

 

You'll very much enjoy the opportunity to decide for yourself! 

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, DCPIV said:

 

It's pretty much the same with subtle differences. Different crew of course, but the ships and what they offer are virtually identical. 

 

The food seemed better on Summit, but it's not like the food here isn't quite good. Variations also can be just because of supplies. Last night's rack of lamb was rather disappointing, though. Still, I managed, but I probably should have gone with the lamb chops from Blu. 

 

There are a few other differences in Luminae, as well. Summit had a true sommelier, Genesis, and she nearly always brought a list. Jelena on Millennium is a Wine Steward, although every bit as knowledgeable. I've never seen her bring a wine list to anyone, and I've asked. I don't know if they even have one. I honestly don't mind, though, as her suggestions have been excellent. 

 

So, I suppose I slightly prefer Summit, but I also don't mind the lack of mirror in the RS. 🤣

 

You'll very much enjoy the opportunity to decide for yourself! 

 
Thank you!  I agree Genesis was fantastic.  So sorry to hear about the disappointing lamb chops in Luminae. That was one of my favorite dishes in Luminae on Summit. 
 

You have no idea how relieved I was to see your post about the full body mirror! 🤣

[DCPIV]

Howdy! It's the last day here, and it's been a nice one. 

 

Once I left the room, I was back at Café al Bacio for my espresso and croissant. It was good and busy today! All the tables in the raised area were taken, as were many others. 

 

Then, it was one more go- round at the spa. I'm going to miss Sharleen and her magic hands! 

 

In a few minutes, I'll sit down for some sushi or ramen or something along those lines. It'll be my first visit in there for this cruise, and I'm looking forward to it. 

 

Yesterday did turn out to be a good day,  but it took a little doing to get there. First, I had to deal with an issue in my account when I noticed my balance was off. Not all my OBC was applied, somehow. It was resolved quickly and easily enough, but that still was a little unsettling (mostly because it took me a couple days to notice). 

 

I got over it just fine, though, as the next thing to happen was that great spa appointment and giant hunk of beef. 

 

Later on, something rather unexpected happened while I was having a great conversation with a fellow at the Martini Bar. He mentioned that his grandmother passed away from a stroke. I don't recall how the conversation got there, but it was a perfectly appropriate thing to mention at the time. No problem there. However, it hit me in a way neither of us could have expected.

 

Those who followed my last live review may recall that I received some bad news during that sailing. A friend died suddenly from a stroke. When the fine gent made his perfectly acceptable and innocent comment, it kinda "triggered" me, so to speak. I can only expect that had something to do with being back on board. While I felt it at the moment, I don't think I really understood what was going on until I started thinking about my late friend while I was at dinner. 

 

Don't worry, this has a pretty good ending. Like before on Summit, one of the Retreat Concierges came to my rescue without even knowing. After I was done with dinner, I had about an hour to kill before the show, so I went to the Retreat Lounge. Patricia was in there, and we started chatting. The next thing I know, I'm rambling about all sorts of things. I'm going on and on about my wife, my kids, my dog, and I don't even remember what else (but I did not mention my friend). Patricia was kind enough to just listen to me. I needed that more than I knew. I left feeling much lighter. 

 

What I saw of the show was spectacular. The acrobats were amazing. Unfortunately, I left at 9:30 for the Macallan tasting. While I enjoyed the company and conversation, the tasting itself left much to be desired. The Lumina was pretty good, but I was less impressed with the other two NAS expressions. Once it was all done, I kind of felt like I overpaid for a few samples and a bit of advertising. I would've been much better off watching the rest of the show. I really do need to be fair, though. The bartender conducting the testing certainly knew his stuff, and we talked more about whisk(e)y afterwards. 

 

I had a number of other great conversations with a number of passengers and crew throughout the day and night, and then I ended the day on the balcony before retiring a good deal later than I should've. I could sleep in (and did), so not a big deal. 

 

Alrighty. Sake is here, and sushi is on the way. World Wine Tasting is after lunch. I have no idea what's after, but I suppose I have to pack at some point. 

[DCPIV]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

You have no idea how relieved I was to see your post about the full body mirror! 🤣

 

That was a very pleasant surprise, especially the fact that DW and I pointed to that very spot in our room on Summit and said "that's a perfect place for a mirror." It's almost like they listened! 🤣

[DCPIV]

I have no idea why that crazy long post to nearly 45 minutes to show up, but I'll chalk it up to wonky ship wifi. 😉

 

Anyhow, while I have a moment, allow me to make an observation. I'm not sure I like this short cruise. I know plenty do, but it's not really for me. There's a sort of sense of urgency running through the whole thing and throughout the passengers. Events have to be crammed into the schedule in such a way that they are held at odd times and create conflicts. 

 

Don't get me wrong, now. I'm having a mighty good time, and I'm very glad to be here. However, it's not quite my pace.

 

Of course, that's not to say that I won't do it again sometime. 😉

[twins_to_alaska]

The Luminae lamb chops were my favorite meal.

 

[twins_to_alaska]

The lack of shade or any protection on the Retreat Sundeck is a serious flaw. Here's one couple's improvisation. They were the only ones braving the sun at that time. I left after not finding any shade.

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by twins_to_alaska