Rare conandrob240 Posted December 30, 2022 #1 Share Posted December 30, 2022 (edited) This post was recognized by LauraS! "Thanks for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic!" conandrob240 was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' We are at JW Marriott Marquis after driving from the St Pete area. Had a nice day Downtown. Shopping, a few drinks, did Happy Hour at our hotel (BouludSud)- nice appetizers and wine on Happy Hour Menu. our plan is to drive over and park around 12:45pm. Hopefully enter terminal at 1:00pm for our 1:30pm time slot. Just mapped out shows to try for in order of importance to us so hopefully that goes well. background: couple in early 50s. Have cruised NCL, RCCL, DCL maybe about 15 cruises. None since mid-2017. We prefer land All Inclusives ( big Sandals junkies) but the food/drinks looked great on VV and the no kids convinced my husband to try it (cruises aren’t his favorite but he wanted to go on this one). will try to post here during the cruise. excited!!! Edited December 30, 2022 by conandrob240 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearsbacker Posted December 30, 2022 #2 Share Posted December 30, 2022 So excited for you!! And so excited to have another live review on this page ♥️🚢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted December 30, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted December 30, 2022 There she is!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted December 30, 2022 Author #4 Share Posted December 30, 2022 We upgraded at port to Rock Star Seriously Aft Suite largest balcony for the lowest price that you could bid on it prior. $1100 This is seriously amazing! Lunch at Dockhouse sooooo good! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted December 31, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted December 31, 2022 A fantastic night! Test kitchen was lovely. The Never Sleep Alone show so free at. Goodnight! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 1, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted January 1, 2023 Food and service best I’ve had on a ship! Enjoying the shows/ musicians too. New Years was a blast! Pool a bit too crowded but we’ve got Richard’s Rooftop for peace and quiet. IMG_2222.MOV 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 2, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted January 2, 2023 Another great day. Dined at Pink Agave which was phenomenal. Service continues to be stellar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan0474mac Posted January 2, 2023 #8 Share Posted January 2, 2023 do you know how many are onboard? Looking at booking next new years eve.Thanks! @conandrob240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brilliantseas Posted January 2, 2023 #9 Share Posted January 2, 2023 Can't wait to board on Wednesday! How full was your sailing? Did it feel crowded for activities (trivia, breakfast in The Galley, etc.)? Which shows would you recommend booking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted January 3, 2023 They told us a bit over 50%. Nothing feels crowded. Our cruise was a bit different with entertainment because of NYE. I loved Never Sleep Alone and Duel Reality was great too. Ship musicians are excellent and the parties have been fantastic. I really don’t want this cruise to end! Best cruise I’ve ever had by a mile! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keels81 Posted January 3, 2023 #11 Share Posted January 3, 2023 40 minutes ago, conandrob240 said: They told us a bit over 50%. Nothing feels crowded. Our cruise was a bit different with entertainment because of NYE. I loved Never Sleep Alone and Duel Reality was great too. Ship musicians are excellent and the parties have been fantastic. I really don’t want this cruise to end! Best cruise I’ve ever had by a mile! Are we on the same cruise? On my VIP tour today, we were told it was at "capacity" at 87 percent with guests and comp'd talent/guests and it definitely feels crowded everywhere. Dinner takes 2+ hours, regardless of restaurants, if you aren't right there at opening with an opening time reservation. Gunbae tonight took us 3.5 hours (we sat down at 6:15 and left a little after 9:45, missing most of the Scarlet Night fun). They've run out of dishes and glassware every night to the point where bar service slows to a halt so they can handwash glassware to serve people. Last night at The Wake, they were using servers from The Galley to help expedite plate delivery and it so much of a disaster. I've never seen so much piled up plates of food/used dishes before and I've cruised Carnival and Royal, with dinners in their MDR. It's definitely not as fun if you aren't a Mega RockStar/RockStar. Also, guests are treating the staff like straight-up trash, so they're not enjoying this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted January 3, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, keels81 said: Are we on the same cruise? On my VIP tour today, we were told it was at "capacity" at 87 percent with guests and comp'd talent/guests and it definitely feels crowded everywhere. Dinner takes 2+ hours, regardless of restaurants, if you aren't right there at opening with an opening time reservation. Gunbae tonight took us 3.5 hours (we sat down at 6:15 and left a little after 9:45, missing most of the Scarlet Night fun). They've run out of dishes and glassware every night to the point where bar service slows to a halt so they can handwash glassware to serve people. Last night at The Wake, they were using servers from The Galley to help expedite plate delivery and it so much of a disaster. I've never seen so much piled up plates of food/used dishes before and I've cruised Carnival and Royal, with dinners in their MDR. It's definitely not as fun if you aren't a Mega RockStar/RockStar. Also, guests are treating the staff like straight-up trash, so they're not enjoying this cruise. I’m only quoting what we were told about occupancy. If you’ve specifically been told 87%, I believe you. we haven’t had a single dinner take anywhere near 3 hrs. Test Kitchen first night was the longest maybe 2 hrs 2 15. I’m not a person who wants to rush through dinner. 2 hrs is perfect for me. Our dining times have all been 7:30-8:30 and the longest we waited to get in was Test kitchen 15 min on first night. And no, I haven’t seen any crazy pile ups of dishes or service issues. The On The Rocks bar has been the only place where there isn’t enough staff plus staff there is slow plus they’ve run out of glasses. im not sure why it’s more fun for Rockstars? No special perks at dinner or other venues. Only Richards rooftop area. BTW, nothing about Scarlet Night started until 9:30 and the pool party began at 10:50pm so you didn’t miss anything. Edited January 3, 2023 by conandrob240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted January 3, 2023 I also haven’t seen mistreatment of staff. The staff is super nice, always look happy and all we’ve spoken to LOVE the line (or at least have said they do). No one seems confused or unprepared. They are all wonderful and extremely knowledgeable and well- trained Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #14 Share Posted January 3, 2023 (edited) Images from yesterday Edited January 3, 2023 by conandrob240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Shake for Champagne (soooo fun!!!) IMG_2269.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Moët Happy Hour vibe at Richard’s Rooftop IMG_2286.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Hammock vibe (pure bliss!) IMG_2247.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MeganGC1983 Posted January 3, 2023 #18 Share Posted January 3, 2023 16 minutes ago, conandrob240 said: Moët Happy Hour vibe at Richard’s Rooftop IMG_2286.MOV What time is that usually? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted January 3, 2023 5-6pm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MeganGC1983 Posted January 3, 2023 #20 Share Posted January 3, 2023 1 hour ago, conandrob240 said: 5-6pm Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfone Posted January 3, 2023 #21 Share Posted January 3, 2023 8 hours ago, conandrob240 said: Moët Happy Hour vibe at Richard’s Rooftop IMG_2286.MOV can anyone attend or do you have to be in a rockstar or megastar cabin? TY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare conandrob240 Posted January 3, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Rockstar perk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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