Come Sail Away - Seascape (YC) 9/10 - 9/24/23

[jules815]

Hi everyone, I can’t believe it’s finally here.  We booked this cruise back in January after what was a pretty crappy 2022. Deaths in the family, loss of a close friend and double (partial) knee replacement surgery for me. We both really needed something to look forward to, and what better than booking a cruise and counting down the days, right?

 

A little about us. We’re both newly retired from Chicago. We started cruising in the early 2000’s with our children, mostly with RC and a few with Carnival. After our youngest went away to college, we started cruising during the off season, our favorite time being that sweet spot right after Labor Day here in the US.  Unfortunately it’s also peak hurricane season, but we’ve done the Caribbean enough times that an itinerary change is no biggie. Around that time we also decided to mix things up a bit and started sailing in suites with RC and then with Celebrity as well. (We LOVE Celebrity, but OMG their suite prices at the moment are insane.) Our first cruise with MSC was in 2019 on Seaside in the YC, and then a week on Meraviglia in October, 2021. Like many of us who jumped ship from other lines to MSC, we status matched to Black, now Diamond. (On both cruises with MSC, we’ve never once dined in a specialty restaurant, but plan on changing that this trip.) We love the MSC YC for all the same reasons others do, but are still open to trying new lines and actually have a transatlantic booked on a HAL ship for April 2024. Our first time sailing with them and we’re looking forward to it. New line and a new itinerary ending in Rotterdam. Yay!

 

This trip on Seascape finds us spending the night before our flight from ORD to MIA at the Marriott Suites hotel near O’Hare. We have an early’ish flight and why not start the vacation a little early? Once in Miami, we’re spending 2 nights at the InterContinental before boarding Seascape on September 10.

 

My husband just left to drop our baby off at her pet sitter’s house. Back to packing!

[jules815]

This is a test posting a photo from my phone, which I hope to be doing while on board. If she had a thought cloud above her head it would likely say, “hurry up already and take the pic so I can go for a car ride!”

[CruiseIreland]

57 minutes ago, jules815 said:

This is a test posting a photo from my phone, which I hope to be doing while on board. If she had a thought cloud above her head it would likely say, “hurry up already and take the pic so I can go for a car ride!”

She's adorable! Looking forward to your trip report! Ken

[lcpagejr]

We will be on Seascape (YC) in November. Looking forward to reading your experiences and observations. Happy sailing!!

[Stem to Stern]

Wandering Celeb here.  Following along in preparation for our inaugural sailing in YC later this year.  Safe travels!

[dexddd]

Have a great time.

[KNBCruising]

Following.....we board on the 24th in the YC; first time and are so excited!

[jules815]

Good morning from Miami! We arrived yesterday afternoon and had a busy day. 

 

We’re staying at the InterContinental with a bay view room, which has a great view of the port and Bayside Marketplace. This is the second time we’ve stayed here and has become our favorite cruise hotel. The area’s very walkable and lots of restaurants in the area. 

 

Yesterday afternoon we had a few hours to kill before our dinner reservation. The restaurant was in Bayside Marketplace so we could have sat in any number of open air bars with beautiful views. But instead, we hopped on one of those Millionaire Row sightseeing cruises, I think it was Island Queen Tours. Anyway, the tour was 90 minutes long, which was actually the perfect amount of time we needed to kill. My husband enjoyed it more than he thought he would. How could you not? It was a beautiful afternoon and we were on a boat. At one point though, they did pass out paperwork to enter a “contest,” which we didn’t do. It smelled of “time share” to me, and I was right. As we were exiting the boat on the lower level, there was a poor couple sitting thru a power point presentation. 

 

We had dinner last night at La Canita, a Cuban restaurant located on the second level in Bayside Marketplace. Wow!!  I found this place on Trip Advisor and it was great. Highly recommend. 

 

Today we don’t really have any plans. Yay! We’re getting ready to walk over to a great breakfast place we found the last time we were here called The Bastille. Another little gem I found on either Trip Advisor or Yelp.

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

 

 

[jules815]

My view this morning, and a few from yesterday. 
 

 

 

 

[jules815]

A couple of things about last night’s dinner. That Margarita had a salt foam on top instead of on the rim. It was their “Margarita Queen.”  Also, that Cuban sandwich was the best I’ve ever had. We didn’t go in expecting to order sandwiches, but had filled up on appetizers. We ended up bringing half back to the hotel, but still managed to make room for dessert. LOL. I had the Tres Leche cake and my husband had the Flan. So good!!

 

[jules815]

2 hours ago, jules815 said:

Good morning from Miami! We arrived yesterday afternoon and had a busy day. 

 

We’re staying at the InterContinental with a bay view room, which has a great view of the port and Bayside Marketplace. This is the second time we’ve stayed here and has become our favorite cruise hotel. The area’s very walkable and lots of restaurants in the area. 

 

Yesterday afternoon we had a few hours to kill before our dinner reservation. The restaurant was in Bayside Marketplace so we could have sat in any number of open air bars with beautiful views. But instead, we hopped on one of those Millionaire Row sightseeing cruises, I think it was Island Queen Tours. Anyway, the tour was 90 minutes long, which was actually the perfect amount of time we needed to kill. My husband enjoyed it more than he thought he would. How could you not? It was a beautiful afternoon and we were on a boat. At one point though, they did pass out paperwork to enter a “contest,” which we didn’t do. It smelled of “time share” to me, and I was right. As we were exiting the boat on the lower level, there was a poor couple sitting thru a power point presentation. 

 

We had dinner last night at La Canita, a Cuban restaurant located on the second level in Bayside Marketplace. Wow!!  I found this place on Trip Advisor and it was great. Highly recommend. 

 

Today we don’t really have any plans. Yay! We’re getting ready to walk over to a great breakfast place we found the last time we were here called The Bastille. Another little gem I found on either Trip Advisor or Yelp.

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

 

 

It’s actually Cafe’ Bastille and bakery, and just as good as it was 2 years ago.  Sitting here in our room eating a Pain Au chocolate from the bakery at the restaurant. (Dessert!). Stopped in at the Starbucks in the hotel lobby for some to go coffees. Pondering what we’ll do for the day. Typically we’d head to the hotel pool, but we’ll have 2 weeks to do that on Seascape, so we’re thinking of heading over to the downtown Brickell shopping area to walk around for a bit. Another beautiful day and warm, but somehow the heat doesn’t bother us when there are palm trees.  

 

[morpheusofthesea]

35 minutes ago, jules815 said:

and just as good as it was 2 years ago.

Hope everything is still as good as it ever was.

Edited September 9, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[jules815]

We walked from our hotel to Brickell. Love a walkable city. Got back to the hotel and just as we stepped inside, the skies opened up.  It’s pouring now, but typical afternoon shower. I’m sure today’s cruisers will have a rain-free sail-away.  

[jules815]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Hope everything is still as good as it ever was.

So far, so good. Our hotel has done a remodel, so the rooms are even nicer than in 2021, and the service here has been just outstanding. As we were leaving for our walk earlier, the bellman who helped us yesterday remembered our names, and brought us each a bottled water for our journey.  

 

 

[jules815]

Some more photos from this afternoon. 
 

 

[jules815]

Good morning and happy cruise day!  It’s a beautiful morning and I can see Seascape docked in port. There’s also a Carnival ship, had to make out the name with the sun shining, but I think it might say Horizon, and also a Virgin ship.  

 

Last night we walked around Bayside Marketplace for a little bit, but couldn’t decide on what to get for dinner. We ended up back at our hotel in the lobby bar that’s connected to the restaurant Toro, Toro. We were able to get a drink and order off the full restaurant menu, so that’s what we did. We did a couple of small plates and they were just enough and delicious.

 

Before I forget, on our walk back to the hotel we walk along the waterfront and it’s just lovely. Last night though we saw the freakiest cloud I think I’ve ever seen. I’m attaching a picture, it was not enhanced at all except for a little bit of a zoom. It started out looking like Mark Twain, then kind of morphed into what looked like the face of a baby. 

 

Our assigned check in is 1pm, but we plan on heading down to the hotel lobby around 10:30 and grab a cab here. There are MANY lined up in an adjacent lot waiting.

 

TTFN!

[jules815]

1 minute ago, jules815 said:

Good morning and happy cruise day!  It’s a beautiful morning and I can see Seascape docked in port. There’s also a Carnival ship, had to make out the name with the sun shining, but I think it might say Horizon, and also a Virgin ship.  

 

Last night we walked around Bayside Marketplace for a little bit, but couldn’t decide on what to get for dinner. We ended up back at our hotel in the lobby bar that’s connected to the restaurant Toro, Toro. We were able to get a drink and order off the full restaurant menu, so that’s what we did. We did a couple of small plates and they were just enough and delicious.

 

Before I forget, on our walk back to the hotel we walk along the waterfront and it’s just lovely. Last night though we saw the freakiest cloud I think I’ve ever seen. I’m attaching a picture, it was not enhanced at all except for a little bit of a zoom. It started out looking like Mark Twain, then kind of morphed into what looked like the face of a baby. 

 

Our assigned check in is 1pm, but we plan on heading down to the hotel lobby around 10:30 and grab a cab here. There are MANY lined up in an adjacent lot waiting.

 

TTFN!

 

[miched]

Will be following.  We booked a MSC Yacht Club cabin for next Feb. only a short 3 day cruise. We want to get our feet wet before totally jumping in.  One day later we will then be going on 2 Celebrity cruises in SS for a total of 19 days.  
 

We are close to Zenith but that doesn’t mean much if the product has gone bad.   We have a 10 cruises booked on X and depending on our MSC compared to X experience we may just forfeit the $100 pp deposits we paid. Don’t need to throw more good money away to save what is already spent 

 

Hopefully your joint replacements have ended.  I had a hip replaced and thought my problems were over.   Nope!   It seems as if things like to come in pairs.  A year later the other hip.   Now some knee issues, and back.   I seen where the QB for ND had a part of his rib bone removed and they gave it to him.  His mother made a necklace for him with it.    I wish I would have asked for my hip joints.  Would have made them into book ends, and Halloween decorations.   
 

It is always fun when going thru a metal detector.  Especially if you start shaking like you are being electrocuted and the sparks are flying.😱🤗.   Never make it thru without being called aside.  
 

The main thing to remember is when you  have a dental appointment is to take the antibiotics.   I always put a  event in the calendar 2 weeks before the appointment to get the antibiotics and then set the alarm 1 hour before to take them 

Enjoy your cruise and thanks for sharing 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

[Stem to Stern]

Bon voyage!!

[jules815]

Big fail on my posts. We’ve had a busy day. Currently having dinner in the YC restaurant. Everything fantastic. Wanted to point out that I’d say around 50%, maybe more, men wearing shorts to dinner. Very casual so far. 
 

Arthur is matre d. On board until October 28th. 
 

 

[dexddd]

10 hours ago, jules815 said:

Big fail on my posts. We’ve had a busy day. Currently having dinner in the YC restaurant. Everything fantastic. Wanted to point out that I’d say around 50%, maybe more, men wearing shorts to dinner. Very casual so far. 
 

Arthur is matre d. On board until October 28th. 
 

 

Ahhh, why can't Arthur be on our trip in six weeks in Mera?

[karmamule]

We have a 14 day YC on the Seascape next February out of Miami and we'll be staying at the Intercontinental too. Great minds think alike! 😉

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and look forward to reading any experiences you share here.

[jules815]

I’m really failing as a live blogger!  
 

We had a very nice day yesterday at Ocean Cay. Beach is still rocky, water shoes are needed, but we saw several people going into the water without. I will say, it seemed to me, that the rocks just before entering the water seemed less sharp and jagged, so maybe they’re working on it ?  
 

I’m posting from my iPhone without my readers, so apologize for any typos! Sitting on our balcony watching the seabirds dive for fish. We’ve just come from breakfast and I’ve had bacon 2 days in a row now. Extra crispy, yum. This was in YC dining room. Haven’t had bfast on the pool deck yet, but we will. Maybe tomorrow. I don’t think we plan on getting off at Ocho Rios tomorrow. 
 

We have a cocktail reception in the Top Sail today at 11:00. Our butler just stopped by to say hello and remind us. 
 

I was able to get a lounger for our balcony. I don’t know why they aren’t standard out here. Plenty of room. We also have 2 chairs and an ottoman. We’re on deck 19 in a grand with a walk in closet. It seems like all staff in YC know we’re doing b2b. 
 

And now for a photo bomb. Enjoy!  

[jules815]

Forgot to mention, we haven’t heard any chair dragging noises yet from deck 20. 
 

 

[jules815]

I had filled out the special request form about distilled water. Email back from MSC said we’d have to provide our own, but there was a gallon in our room on boarding day.