Seashore 10-day 12/7-17: attempting a live-from!!

[gotta cruise again]

This is an attempt to do a ‘live from’…we’ll see if I can keep up with it!! DH and I are on MSC Seashore for a 10 day cruise. We booked as a 10 day but it’s a 3 + 7 schedule so we’ll be returning to Port Canaveral 12/10. Our cruise starts 12/7.

We arrived from central Texas at MCO yesterday about 5pm. Caught the Cocoa Beach Shuttle to Towneplace Suites near Port Canaveral.

 

It was an uneventful journey, which is always a blessing. I say “uneventful” but there was one snafoo: our bags arrived at A14 but our shuttle pick-up point was all-the-way-down at the other end of the lower level of MCO. We got to the end and were looking for shuttle parking #3 & 4 but there was new construction in that area. A quick call to the Shuttle company and we were redirected to #9 & 10, which is where we were—YAY. I was tired and DH needed to sit down so was at a nearby bench. A van pulled up with various Mariott logos on the side…and you have probably figured out the rest. That’s right: I got us on the wrong shuttle van!! Oops! Fortunately, I asked the driver a question, which then clued him (and me) to the fact we weren’t where we were supposed to be. He could have let us out at the far end (yep, down by A14) but graciously looped back around to #9 & 10, where our shuttle kindly waited for us (I had texted about my error).

 

The Towneplace Suites are really nice. It’s a new property so everything is nice & fresh. Our room has a nice balcony and the bed faces it, rather like a Sky Suite in the Celebrity Retreat. There is a kitchen with full refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and even a cooktop; dishware too. They do serve food down in the bar area, which was handy for a late-ish arrival last night. Breakfast this AM was just fine too (I always think that when bacon is crisp and DH gets a waffle!!)

 

On the flight, we were treated to a lovely sunset.

 

 

[iowacruiser]

Sorry you arrived with the latest cold front.. which tend to be weekly this time of year. Hopefully it will warm up by the time we board tomorrow..

[rebeccac]

We'll be joining you on the 10th.  Looking forward to your take on the beginning part of your trip.

[Dock B]

deleted: need to rewrite

Edited December 7, 2023 by Dock B
need to rewrite...

[gotta cruise again]

There is (was!!) a rocket launch tonight, scheduled for 11:01pm. DH and I were (are??) planning on going out to watch...

 

But the launch time has now been moved to the wee hours of Thursday 12/7 sometime between 12:07-02:59 AM. What to do?!?

 

My thoughts on the launch: I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight anyway when looking forward to boarding the ship in a few hours, so I may as well stay up and see the launch...we'll see what happens! Good thing I took a bit of a nap this afternoon.

 

As for DH and the launch, he may choose sleep; again...we'll see!

 

Hopefully, I'll be posting photos of the launch (but don't hold your breath just in case I doze off!!)

[gotta cruise again]

Wow! Just WOW!!!

 

It was worth staying up to see my first launch! Now I know I won’t be able to sleep as that was so exciting…I can sleep late in a couple of days on the ship. 

 

Not the best photos but here they are (I mostly watched the launch vs. missing it trying to take pictures):

 

This is the glow as the rockets started

 

It just cleared the same building that was in front of the glow 

 

Grainy image but this was just before  separation 

 

The tiny glow near the palm frond is post separation and reusable parts returning to land on the drone barge

 

 

Now, I’m going to see if I can get a little sleep!!

Edited December 7, 2023 by gotta cruise again
Remove duplicate photo

[gotta cruise again]

So we’re onboard & relaxing in YC lounge. From the time our hotel shuttle bus arrived (about 35 people on our shuttle) at the terminal until we got into lounge was only 40 minutes. We were checking in at the counter when they took a group aboard so had to wait until the next escort. But that was just fine.

 

DH sipping tomato juice and I have a champagne mimosa (not Prosecco). 

[skivoodoo]

So glad to meet you! Between the 2 of us we’ll report out on any and all things Seashore!

[gotta cruise again]

I am hoping to post on some topics that aren’t usually covered during live-from threads. 
 

Today, the spa had a pretty good special: buy a 50 minute massage and get 80 minutes. The massage had to be done today, not later in the cruise. 
 

I can recommend the Balinese massage!!

 

Here are photos of the whole spa area pricing. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fine print is about the gratuity added to the service pricing. 

 

[gotta cruise again]

As a Voyager Club member, there’s a special of spending $50 and getting $10 off that purchase. We needed gifts and found sale item we wanted—9 gifts all on sale. Each of us going to spend $50 & get discount.

 

She rang up sale & discount wouldn’t apply since items on sale: has to be regular priced items, she said. 

 

Well, she went to just ring up the whole thing that did include 1 regular priced item and we were both surprised that the discount was given, even though the regular item wasn’t $50. 
 

So I said to ring the rest of the sale items along with a $3 item: got the $10 off!!

 

Wanted readers to know this in the event of making a purchase and needing a workaround to get the discount. YMMV

[gotta cruise again]

Found this set up on both bedside tables in our YC cabin this evening. Such a nice touch that was unexpected and  much appreciated!

 

[Av8tor]

5 hours ago, gotta cruise again said:

 

 

 

I guess they must think people don't do math on vacations...

 

1 Personal Trainer session fo $49, but 3 sessions for $199??? That's just crazy!!!

Edited December 8, 2023 by Av8tor

[brucevr6]

Yet…6 sessions for $219 😳😃!!

[gotta cruise again]

I reposted what I had already posted: need more coffee!!

Edited December 8, 2023 by gotta cruise again

[gotta cruise again]

Totally by accident discovered that the outer curtain is enough: no blackout curtain was needed!

 

this pic is from this AM on a partly cloudy yet sunny day on the east side of the ship. 
 

We easily slept (waaaay too late!!) as it was plenty dark but when we did decide coffee was r-e-a-l-l-y needed, we weren’t stumbling around in the dark. 
 

 

[gotta cruise again]

I now have more expresso to wake me up…but with this addition, I’ll probably mess up even more posts!!! lol

[gotta cruise again]

Found the wine area on deck 8, near all the specialty dining restaurants. I asked and if to use the Wine Emotion, you are charged the full price, not the difference. The lady I asked the question of called to check. She added that in the bars, you’re charged the difference. 
 

 

[gotta cruise again]

We aren’t getting off the ship today (Nassau, yet again!) but I thought this signage in the elevator was handy:

 

 

Speaking of elevators, mostly the “VIP” is working; DHs bracelet works better than mine but my problem could be me!!

I took this pic so others could see that you hold your YC bracelet UNDER the elevator button pad first, then press the floor you desire. I circled the bracelet spot for better visibility since the entire gizmo is pretty smudgy. 
 

[gotta cruise again]

Missed breakfast but did have coffee (see above about that). Lunch at pool deck buffet was tasty. 
 

But now, I’m succumbing to a beverage & snacks! They really need to do away with these lounge snacks…please know that I’m doing my part in doing away with all of them!!!

 

[skivoodoo]

Had a great time at dinner with you both last night! Like you, staying onboard but at the pool deck. Plenty of spots, even shady ones! 

[jean87510]

19 hours ago, gotta cruise again said:

I am hoping to post on some topics that aren’t usually covered during live-from threads. 
 

Today, the spa had a pretty good special: buy a 50 minute massage and get 80 minutes. The massage had to be done today, not later in the cruise. 
 

I can recommend the Balinese massage!!

 

Here are photos of the whole spa area pricing. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fine print is about the gratuity added to the service pricing. 

 

Confused about cabana experience.  Where is this at in relation to the spa?

[Dock B]

@jean87510 I too was wondering about that! Maybe it's the cabana's on the regular pool deck and not YC?? I really do not know. If we make it back to the spa, I'll ask for clarification.

 

Speaking of the spa...I really should go down there today while we're in port and it may not be too busy, to try out all those showers, salt room, saunas, snow room, etc. etc.!!

[Dakotastar]

1 hour ago, Dock B said:

@jean87510 I too was wondering about that! Maybe it's the cabana's on the regular pool deck and not YC?? I really do not know. If we make it back to the spa, I'll ask for clarification.

 

Speaking of the spa...I really should go down there today while we're in port and it may not be too busy, to try out all those showers, salt room, saunas, snow room, etc. etc.!!

Looking forward to the snow room and the sauna.

Has anyone gone over to the sports courts to see if they have pickleball out there. I know Seaside does was wondering if Seashore got it outlined yet?

[jean87510]

2 hours ago, Dock B said:

@jean87510 I too was wondering about that! Maybe it's the cabana's on the regular pool deck and not YC?? I really do not know. If we make it back to the spa, I'll ask for clarification.

 

Speaking of the spa...I really should go down there today while we're in port and it may not be too busy, to try out all those showers, salt room, saunas, snow room, etc. etc.!!

If you don't mind.  Thanks!

[gotta cruise again]

Just noticed this while onboard, on the app. Appears you can read not only newspapers (this is the service used to print newspapers for YC) but also magazines.