Live Voyager of the Seas Baltic Cruise (by way of a short stay in London & Copenhagen) May 22-29th

[la_croisiere_s'amuse]

On 5/19/2022 at 12:34 PM, CatLadyFemme said:

 MrCatLady did feel adventurous trying both the black pudding and the marmite…though he has since told me he regrets trying both 😂

I agree on both counts. 😉 But good on him for trying! And hearty congratulations on your tenure news!! I know how huge that is. 🥳

 

Looking forward to following along! 

[CatLadyFemme]

24 hours out from boarding! We had a lovely buffet breakfast at the hotel that was surprisingly GF and even vegan friendly, including pre packaged GF bread items that were so much better than similar ones in the US. One was even the dense seed heavy bread I missed from my days in Germany! So so so good. Also some of the best cheese I have ever had. And fresh juices; I did a beet apple lemon ginger, and a ginger shot, while MrCatLady opted for the spinach apple cucumber lemon. Champagne was included too. The breakfast spread reminded me of what most hotels in Israel have for the same meal. Still recovering from glutening last night, so trying to fill up on good things and veggies as I can.

 

 

We took our EMed tests last night. Had planned to get tested upon arrival at the Airport, but our wheelchair pusher was so efficient that we were outside before we knew it! Glad we brought be tests, though it looks like there is also a testing center nearby. Printed off our negative results in the cool looking business station (chairs much more stable and comfortable than they look!).

 

For now, a bit of a rest as my joints are really aching from getting glutened, then a shower, and exploring. We had hoped to do a boat tour, but it doesn’t seem that any of them are even remotely accessible, and that is as a cane user who can do 2-3 stairs ok. I am a fairly well known disability scholar and activists, and several of my colleagues remarked that Denmark, while having an excellent safety net, is not great at disability and accessibility, and I have definitely found that to be the case so far, especially compared to London and the US (neither of which are excellent on their own either). Always room to grow!

[CruiseMelissa]

1 hour ago, CatLadyFemme said:

24 hours out from boarding! We had a lovely buffet breakfast at the hotel that was surprisingly GF and even vegan friendly, including pre packaged GF bread items that were so much better than similar ones in the US. One was even the dense seed heavy bread I missed from my days in Germany! So so so good. Also some of the best cheese I have ever had. And fresh juices; I did a beet apple lemon ginger, and a ginger shot, while MrCatLady opted for the spinach apple cucumber lemon. Champagne was included too. The breakfast spread reminded me of what most hotels in Israel have for the same meal. Still recovering from glutening last night, so trying to fill up on good things and veggies as I can.

 

 

 

We took our EMed tests last night. Had planned to get tested upon arrival at the Airport, but our wheelchair pusher was so efficient that we were outside before we knew it! Glad we brought be tests, though it looks like there is also a testing center nearby. Printed off our negative results in the cool looking business station (chairs much more stable and comfortable than they look!).

 

I didn't realize you were GF, I missed that tidbit if information! (Edit- now I see it's pretty much bin your opening paragraph 😄)Now I'm even more obsessed with your posts.  Taking my celiac daughter on voyager in August,  please post about GF food on the ship and ports.. I'm so excited 😊 

Edited May 21, 2022 by CruiseMelissa

[CatLadyFemme]

2 hours ago, CruiseMelissa said:

I didn't realize you were GF, I missed that tidbit if information! (Edit- now I see it's pretty much bin your opening paragraph 😄)Now I'm even more obsessed with your posts.  Taking my celiac daughter on voyager in August,  please post about GF food on the ship and ports.. I'm so excited 😊 

Will do! Also, she will likely have an easier time than me if she eats meat and fish. I know that has been the challenge here is finding the intersection of GF and veggie!

[CatLadyFemme]

Still not feeling fully up to snuff; likely a combo of not recovering from the glutening yet (oh hey joint pain and bad cog fog) and still learning to navigate post COVID syndrome/long COVID (that would be the immense fatigue, bad headache, and memory loss), so took it fairly easy. We wandered around the area a bit more, coming across a pedestrian mall. Picked up some D&D related presents for MxCatLady at a new nerdy store, and tried for a chai at a coffee and juice place. For some reason, their machine would not take any of our four different Visas (two credit, two debit, through Chase and PNC), so we had to go get cash from an ATM…and then the resulting drinking wound up quick disappointing and not drinkable. Alas. However, we did also find the Normal store, which was like a high end drug store meets dollar store. Picked up some fun foot masks, face cream, Milke chocolate for folks at home, and so much gluten free black licorice! Sweet AND salty! I am in heaven!

 

After more wandering around, made it back to the hotel for a lie down, while MrCatLady went to explore more gardens, a canal, and some old buildings. We decided to do dinner in the hotel restaurant after last night’s failure and an hour of browsing local places that were either great at veggie or solid at GF, but both both. The meal and drinks (beer for him, Bartender’s pick mocktail for me) we’re all delicious!

 

Printed off our confirmations for local hosted private accessible excursions in Tallin and Helsinki, and took a shower, while MrCatLady is enjoying a bath bomb he picked up at Normal in the huge bathtub. We stopped by the concierge to order a cab for tomorrow…super excited! We can tell this isn’t a traditional tourist hotel, as he had to look up where the port was 😂 It has been really nice being in the middle of everything though!

 

A smattering of pictures from today:

[CatLadyFemme]

It’s boarding day! So stoked.

 

we are packed and breakfasted. Cannot love the breakfast buffet here enough; highly recommend, and I am not even usually into breakfast.

 

Just waiting for check out and our taxi and head over!

[Norwaylady]

1 hour ago, CatLadyFemme said:

It’s boarding day! So stoked.

 

we are packed and breakfasted. Cannot love the breakfast buffet here enough; highly recommend, and I am not even usually into breakfast.

 

Just waiting for check out and our taxi and head over!

safe travel to port and enjoy your cruise 🚢 We just left the ship this morning😌

I was on the sailing 1-8.may and 15-22.may. 
The crew is working hard to improve and get everything into the normal routine. 
I could see the improvements in some of the areas they are training🙂 
So enjoy your holiday and relax🥰

[CatLadyFemme]

2 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

safe travel to port and enjoy your cruise 🚢 We just left the ship this morning😌

I was on the sailing 1-8.may and 15-22.may. 
The crew is working hard to improve and get everything into the normal routine. 
I could see the improvements in some of the areas they are training🙂 
So enjoy your holiday and relax🥰

Fantastic! We are bored and everyone seems very nice so far 💜

[CatLadyFemme]

We are boarded! Of all the piers we have sailed out of in Florida, Texas, and Seattle, this was by far the easiest, smoothest, and quickest. It took maaaaybe 12 minutes from our taxi pulling up to checking in at our Muster station on deck 4. Boom!

 

We then explored the Solarium for a bit. I wish I had brought my swimsuit like I usually do, but at least I could put my legs in the hot tub, which was actually properly hot!

After sometime there, we headed to deck 5 for some iced beverages. They were out of both cold brew (MrCatLady’s coffee drink of choice) and boxed chai (I like a good iced chai), so it seems like still some supply issues. Luckily, we are both pretty chill, so we took our second choice drinks to the Star Lounge and just chilled out until our rooms were ready, much earlier than expected, at 1pm.

Oh my goodness y’all; I love this room! We are in an accessible Panoramic Ocean View and it is STUNNING. So worth it. I plan to spend lots of time in bed or on the couch, just watching the sea out the window!

 

Finally, back to the promenade to upgrade our internet. I though Surf on the Allure was bad; here, I couldn’t even open this website (or Google or CNN), none the less post. For $5/day per device, you can upgrade to surf and stream, which is marginally better (I don’t think you can actually stream on it though), and since MrCatLady uses the internet way more than I do, it is worth it for us.

 

Now, sitting in R bar with a Shirley Temple and a Pellegrino, killing time till my pedicure. It was on a great sale in Black Friday and almost the same cost as going at home, so I snapped it up, and it will be my first spa service on Royal. Looking forward to it!

[Sweetsue5680]

On 5/18/2022 at 7:34 PM, CatLadyFemme said:

Yes! It is the Grand at Trafalgar. Accessible shower, extra space. Small one person lift up the outside stairs, and then lifts inside.

Loving your review as I’m on the June 5th voyager from Copenhagen. What hotel will you staying in Copenhagen? I have reserved Copenhagen Marriott - thank goodness for points!

[CruiseMelissa]

Love the updates!  Hope you're feeling better!

[laurieal]

Oh, that view! 💙

 

I didn't know accessible panoramic staterooms were a thing. I will keep an eye out for them from now on.

[CatLadyFemme]

32 minutes ago, Sweetsue5680 said:

Loving your review as I’m on the June 5th voyager from Copenhagen. What hotel will you staying in Copenhagen? I have reserved Copenhagen Marriott - thank goodness for points!

We stayed at Skt Petri. Really lovely, but two steps to get inside, so not WC accessible. Loved their restaurant and design.

[CatLadyFemme]

4 minutes ago, laurieal said:

Oh, that view! 💙

 

I didn't know accessible panoramic staterooms were a thing. I will keep an eye out for them from now on.

I didn’t know either, but it came up as an accessible option when we rebooked our 2021 Venice cruise (which was a rebook from summer 2020), and so ai took a chance! Cheaper than a balcony but still super fancy feeling. I think only Voyager class has them. Let me know if you wind up trying one

[sandebeach]

On 5/19/2022 at 9:34 PM, CatLadyFemme said:

Exciting news! Just did a Zoom meeting with my Dean to find out I officially got promoted and tenure! So that’s a weight off my shoulders, and something to celebrate with the rest of the trip.

 

Congratulations!!! That is a huge accomplishment. Many people do not realize that for faculty in Academia, there are only two promotion levels. It was many years ago but I still remember how excited I was when I got that call from the Provost saying yes to my T&P file! 

[backsbanny]

Enjoy your cruise. We just disembarked this morning. One of our best cruises ever. Few people on board and the crew was amazing. Best service we have ever seen on RCL. Ship also kept at great condition and the ports very easy to do on your own. Shuttles and UBER everywhere available at all ports of call!! 

[Sea Dog]

I always enjoy your reviews. Congrats on getting tenure. Let me know how much you like Voyager? We will be on her next year. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your amazing trip and ship.

[bearette]

I love your star dress!! Please tell me where I can find it!? I am enjoying your vacation fashion and review. We are on one of the trips leaving from Stockholm so seeing your trip gets us excited.  My kids though had no idea what that telephone booth was behind you 😄... Kids these days. 

 

Congrats on your tenure!

[CatLadyFemme]

1 hour ago, bearette said:

I love your star dress!! Please tell me where I can find it!? I am enjoying your vacation fashion and review. We are on one of the trips leaving from Stockholm so seeing your trip gets us excited.  My kids though had no idea what that telephone booth was behind you 😄... Kids these days. 

 

Congrats on your tenure!

I believe it was from Torrid in mid 2020. You can probably find one on Poshmark now! 
Ha! I was actually shocked to see them because I assumed they’d taken them all out after payphones went the way of the Dodo. The black one is actually a Wi-Fi hot spot.
 

And thank you! A huge relief to be sure.

[CatLadyFemme]

2 hours ago, sandebeach said:

Congratulations!!! That is a huge accomplishment. Many people do not realize that for faculty in Academia, there are only two promotion levels. It was many years ago but I still remember how excited I was when I got that call from the Provost saying yes to my T&P file! 

Indeed, it is quite the adventure. So glad to be on the other side!

[CatLadyFemme]

Just got back from my pedicure, dinner, and navigating some room drama.

 

Pedicure was nice but not super accessible (had to essentially climb onto a thing), and there was no massaging chair, and a lot of upselling. I don’t think I would use a spa service again based on the upselling alone. It’s pretty hard to relax when you’re having to think ahead about how to plan for the next “no thank you.” But my toes are cute!

 

 

After grabbing MrCatLady, we headed down, across, and down some more to the MDR on level 3. I had emailed asking for a table for 2, and ideally somewhere quieter (I am autistic and super noise/commotion sensitive, so really appreciated being in a wing on the Allure). Here, they put us in a lovely corner table by the window. Could not have asked for better!

 

Our serving team is super nice, though also clearly new, and the chefs might be newish too. I had the butternut squash soup off the vegan menu without the Apple fritters (fairly tasty), gave the warm fennel and quinoa salad another shot (much better an last month, but I still have no idea why they boil the flavor out of the fennel??), the polenta (always a solid first night choice), and a fresh fruit plate (almost nothing was ripe, sadly). They also brought me GF rolls (MUCH better than the random bread slices I often get). MrCatLady had the Maryland crab cake (very good), the Caesar salad (very good), the prime rib (usually his favorite dish on board, but he ordered it medium rare, it came medium well and with a lot of fat around it; he didn’t eat more than a third of it…he wouldn’t let me send it back, but definitely was disappointed ), and the key lime pie (solid). Following this, I tried to stop by Cafe Promenade for an Udi’s gluten free cookie, but they had never heard for them. I am so baffled; this is maybe my 10th cruise since my celiac Dx and I have never had an issue getting one. But I had him double check with the chef, and he too had not heard of them. Very disappointing, especially given how few MDR GF deserts there are.

 

 

After dinner, we went back to the cabin. Our lovely steward Timothy already had my requested ice for my ice pack, but I needed to track him down for my extension cord (ordered in advance through special needs for my CPAP and heating pad) and extra pillows. He told me everyone wanted an extension cord and he had someone looking for one but it might not happen (which would be incredibly frustrating) . Pillows would be by shortly.

 

welp, then my reading lamp didn’t work. Back down the hall to Timothy…this time in my robe 😬 He wanted to make sure I tried a card in the thing by the door…this made no sense to me, since MrCatLady’s lamp worked fine, but ok. Still nothing. He stopped by to deliver the pillows (yay!) and call maintenance, and so we are lying here waiting for it. My internet (yes, the newer more expensive kind) keeps dropping off, so adding that to tomorrow’s list. 
 

I am not going to make up my mind on the first night, but this is definitely not the level of service we have been used to on Royal, not only pre pandemic, but also last month. I know they have a lot of new folks, so we are trying to be super friendly and calm, but it’s starting to get a bit frustrating, that things we informed them of months ago were not taken into account. I am also afraid I am going to get glutened again somehow because not everyone seems to get it. Some of the public spaces are not getting cleaned up as often as one would expect, and we’ve been in two different bathrooms that were out of soap. Also, we were given our Freestyle cups, but not one of the staff members we have asked has any idea where the machines are on board 🤷🏻‍♀️ 
 

I am sure we will have a great time regardless (a cruise is a cruise, and the views have been lovely!), and we really love the more chill, friendly, and less drunken vibe on board, compared to the Caribbean sailings we’ve done. MrCatLady says it feels like Alaska sailings, but think even more chill and friendly as far as the guests. If they are going to have a mostly brand new crew, this is the place to do it. I think many would get eaten alive on Florida sailings.

 

Send is good wishes for an extension cord and a light bulb. I always bring duct tape, but never would have thought of bringing a reading lamp or light bulb replacement. Alas!

[Shiraus82]

32 minutes ago, CatLadyFemme said:

Also, we were given our Freestyle cups, but not one of the staff members we have asked has any idea where the machines are on board 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

I won't be onboard until june 26th but according to the app, there's one "beverage station". Deck 5 forward. But I don't see it marked on deck plan and google tells me Voyager doesn't have the Freestyle machines. Could of course be old information. If you find one, please post the information so we can find it as well. 😀

[darthvadrouw]

Unfortunately, there are no Freestyle machines on Voyager, you need to get your soda at a bar.
Regarding  Voom, it's very bad on Voyager even the surf&stream one, last month it was nearly impossible to connect to any site all trip long.

[CatLadyFemme]

48 minutes ago, darthvadrouw said:

Unfortunately, there are no Freestyle machines on Voyager, you need to get your soda at a bar.
Regarding  Voom, it's very bad on Voyager even the surf&stream one, last month it was nearly impossible to connect to any site all trip long.

Helpful to know; thank you! This is a great example of the greenness of the crew. Folks sent us all over the ship looking for these machines. All we needed would have been to be told they didn’t have them, and we would have been fine. Again, not a biggie in the scheme of things; people are super kind and wanting to be helpful. They just don’t know the answers.

 

and good to know. This is truly awful. I was able to head back down to the Promanade to get enough internet to type those, but no way to upload photos for now. Will keep y’all updated the best I can! Thanks for reassuring me this isn’t just user error.

[CatLadyFemme]

Update 2.0.  Timothy’s shift ended, so no electric cord tonight and no reading lamp. Will try again tomorrow. I am slightly irritated because it would make my evening less painful, and my sleep better, but I can definitely survive without. However, as a disability activist, this makes me very worried for other disabled folks that also requested one and *need* such an item, perhaps because they need to charge their power chair, or run a more necessary machine. Again, recognize that folks are new and I certainly am not going to go Karen on anyone, but find this a bit frustrating.

 

It also appears that even though I downloaded books to read from my library, the app requires a modicum of internet to open, so am booklets. Luckily, I brought a few paper books as well. I will just have to read with the overhead light on, at least until MrCatLady falls asleep!

 

sweet dreams everyone.