Quantum May 9, 2022 7 Nights Alaska Not Very Live

twangster · May 10, 2022

10 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Do you know if suite guest are required to use any CC drink coupons in the lounge during Happy Hour?

My understanding is that drinks are free for suite guest in the lounge during Happy Hour but must be purchased, or use a drink coupon at other times.

The Suite Lounge/Concierge Club on Quantum class only serves drinks during the evening cocktail happy hours 5pm to 8pm. During this time guests in full suites are not charged for any drinks. Outside of the these times there is no bar service in the Suite Lounge/Concierge Club.

Only Oasis class Suite Lounges have 11am to 11pm beer and wine. This is not offered on Quantum class.

DaKahuna · May 10, 2022

Thank you for confirming this.

twangster · May 10, 2022

The Chicken and Beef Satay at Splashaway cafe.

Outdoor wave pool is closed today. The Indoor family pool is open.

Poor bartender...

Self serve ice cream.

Happiest bow in the fleet!

Biker dude.

Position report. Whales spotted here and there. No fancy breaches today, just water spouts and some tail.

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

6 hours ago, twangster said:

The line was long boarding. It got more chaotic as time progressed. Too many folks are ignoring their arrival time and while they have signs for different times they gave up and just told everyone go to the end of the line.

Star Class has a priority queue. No one else does.

The line double backed twice under the gray shelter by the time I took this picture.

gee reminds me of Ovation embarking in 2019 Vancouver. Line was very long and annoying

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

6 hours ago, twangster said:

No entertainment on board uses reservations. Every show and every time is first come, first seated. At least on this cruise.

excellent. I like that.

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

2 hours ago, twangster said:

If anyone has been on Anthem or Ovation this ship feels identical except for subtle differences like the window seating in the Solarium.

Later sister ships have more loungers near the windows as I recall.

wow sounds interesting I can not wait to try Quantum.

I did like the Wonder solarium better than other sisters as it as enclosed.

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Yes.

The first gatekeeper asked for our test results. They gave a us a sticker to put on so others would know we have already showed a negative test.

The next gatekeeper outside was a guy asking if we had ArriveCAN done. Those who answered no were sent to the side to get it done. I showed my phone with QR code to him and was allowed to proceed.

I imagine part of the delays were folks who didn't have this done. There were 10 or 15 guests standing there doing it when I reached that point. The problem is those people who don't have it done have to ask question after question while receiving the same answer. Yes you need to have ArriveCAN done. Meanwhile us that have it done are stuck behind them while they are asking a different version of the same question for the 10th time.  Yes you need to have ArriveCAN done.  Yes you need to have ArriveCAN done. Asking again will yield the same answer. Move out of the way and let those of us that have it done through.

I did receive a text message and an email 72 hours before boarding day from Royal explaining the need for ArriveCAN. I guess some guests had no idea.

me thinks RCI should give you and those who completed ArriveCan some OBC for say $30 or so. I mean you behaved and deserve to be rewarded Yes........

Wondering if I will have to do this in late August? time will tell

DaKahuna · May 10, 2022

2 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

me thinks RCI should give you and those who completed ArriveCan some OBC for say $30 or so. I mean you behaved and deserve to be rewarded Yes........

Wondering if I will have to do this in late August? time will tell

You are not the only one wondering. We are on the August 29 - September 5 and September 5 - 12 sailings.

I expect a number of things to change between now and then but fortunately @twangster is setting realistic expectations for us through his post.

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

5 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

You are not the only one wondering. We are on the August 29 - September 5 and September 5 - 12 sailings.

I expect a number of things to change between now and then but fortunately @twangster is setting realistic expectations for us through his post.

aw yes and those in Europe are finding shorex cancelled on Wonder OTS because of covid.

I am glad to only be sailing out of USA as that is enough to worry about. geezzz when will it all end.

SeafaringKangaroo · May 10, 2022

17 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

me thinks RCI should give you and those who completed ArriveCan some OBC for say $30 or so. I mean you behaved and deserve to be rewarded Yes........

Wondering if I will have to do this in late August? time will tell

The folks I talked to that had this problem on my Quantum sailing last week were each given $100 in onboard credits, but only to the ones that complained to the crew. Two couples I spoke with complained and got OBC, two couples I spoke with that did not complain did not get OBC.

So the key is to complain. :)

Edited May 10, 2022 by SeafaringKangaroo

Oceansaway17 · May 10, 2022

5 minutes ago, SeafaringKangaroo said:

The folks I talked to that had this problem on my Quantum sailing last week were each given $100 in onboard credits, but only to the ones that complained to the crew. Two couples I spoke with complained and got OBC, two couples I spoke with that did not complain did not get OBC.

So the key is to complain. 🙂

interesting. well $100 I guess is worth it to complain.

It does amaze me how many folks do not prepare for their cruise or read the emails or make and reservations for anything. I mean going with the flow is not the way to go these days.

by the time I go on Quantum in late August, I will have read many stories on CC you can be sure.

toodles

celoplyr · May 10, 2022

Thank you for the menu.

If anyone is on the July 4th sailing, you'll be able to find me. I'll be the person hauling a suitcase full of hot chocolate mix for the parents who are addicted to it....

ChanaC · May 11, 2022

Thanks for this, especially the cruise compasses!!! I'm sailing Quantum in a few weeks.

Question for your sea days - are you anywhere near land? I was kind of hoping it would be "scenic cruising" but it looks like in and out of Seattle you're sailing out in the Pacific, not the inside passage. Still hoping for some nice views!

Biker19 · May 11, 2022

Just now, ChanaC said:

I was kind of hoping it would be "scenic cruising" but it looks like in and out of Seattle you're sailing out in the Pacific, not the inside passage.

Q class is too big for that.

twangster · May 11, 2022

3 minutes ago, ChanaC said:

Thanks for this, especially the cruise compasses!!! I'm sailing Quantum in a few weeks.

Question for your sea days - are you anywhere near land? I was kind of hoping it would be "scenic cruising" but it looks like in and out of Seattle you're sailing out in the Pacific, not the inside passage. Still hoping for some nice views!

Quantum is too tall for the Canadian Inside Passage so she has to go out to sea. There are power lines one section that limit ship height. They can't open the stores and casino when trey are close to land so they sail away from land into international water. On clear days you will be able to see mountains in the distance but in the Northwest there aren't many clear days. This region is known for overcast and wet, rainy weather.

It is possible to see some whales in the distance though.

Once we are in the Alaska Inside Passage there will be land on both sides. It is very scenic.

Tee & Chilli · May 11, 2022

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

All ships have Voom, a general marketing term RCI made up for internet on their ships - invented soon after Quantum came out as the first ship with O3B internet. Unfortunately, this confused customers who thought, perhaps like you, that all ships have O3B Voom - they don't.

@Biker19Which ships do not? Thank you

twangster · May 11, 2022

18 minutes ago, Tee & Chilli said:

@Biker19Which ships do not? Thank you

Freedom class, Oasis class and Quantum class plus Enchantment have O3b.

Everything else, Vision, Voyager and Radiance class have the legacy technology.

Edited May 11, 2022 by twangster

jerseygirl629 · May 11, 2022

For iFly and the North Star, when looking at 8am in port, do you need to be on the ships wifi? Or can you be on LTE/5G? I wasn’t planning on buying any Internet but if I can’t book them without it on sea days I guess I will have to get the Internet lol. Also - can you book slots for your whole family or just yourself? Going on Ovation in august. Thanks 🙂

twangster · May 11, 2022

Just now, jerseygirl629 said:

For iFly and the North Star, when looking at 8am in port, do you need to be on the ships wifi? Or can you be on LTE/5G? I wasn’t planning on buying any Internet but if I can’t book them without it on sea days I guess I will have to get the Internet lol. Also - can you book slots for your whole family or just yourself? Going on Ovation in august. Thanks 🙂

You can use the ship wifi and the app without buying a Voom plan. You must be on ship wifi to book things during the cruise.

twangster · May 11, 2022

The phone speed dials are hard to read for old folks like me.

I was having trouble reaching housekeeping as the phone said "Invalid" when I tried the housekeeping button. It turns they have on-boarded a number of new crew in the cabin attendant position but don't have wireless phones for them. The deck supervisor has given me his card so if I need anything I need to call him and he will pass it onto my attendant. interesting.

To use the ship wifi without buying a Voom plan use the second option when connecting to the ship 'guest' wifi.

5pm Alaska time update:

We still have O3b much to my surprise. Not complaining though. The ping time in the low 200's is a sure sign of O3b.

For the geeks:

PING 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=0 ttl=108 time=215.531 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=1 ttl=108 time=215.550 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=2 ttl=108 time=313.692 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=3 ttl=108 time=231.564 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=4 ttl=108 time=210.745 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=5 ttl=108 time=227.342 ms

^C

--- 8.8.8.8 ping statistics ---

6 packets transmitted, 6 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

twangster · May 11, 2022

Current conditions:

luv2sailAgain · May 11, 2022

Thank you so much, Twangster! We should be boarding Ovation in just over 3 weeks. I appreciate all the information. I haven't sailed since before Covid. Getting nervous about jumping through all the hurdles necessary for cruise travel. Reading your report is easing my anixety.

twangster · May 11, 2022

In the suite lounge. GreyGoose tastes like GreyGoose tonight. Choices were Tito’s or GreyGoose for vodka based cocktails. No Pinnacle vouchers consumed.