Aboard Serenity Jan 18-Feb 3: The Adventure Continues

[ryndam]

Mid-voyage random observations:

 

1. White party tonite. The amplification was deafening. We’ve been to Rolling Stones concerts that weren’t as loud. It was painful. Our opinion only. Maybe others removed their hearing aids and thought it was fine. 🤪🤪🤪🥴

 

2. Avenue Saloon performer finally arrived in Cartagena. Waaaaaaay over amplified. I registered concern with cruise director & hotel manager. Issue not resolved. Painful to the ears. We will not be returning to the Avenue the remainder of this cruise.

 

3. The rotating duos playing in Palm Court are great. Choice is good. Our preferred evening venue for the balance of the cruise.

 

4. Clocks back 1 hour tonite.

 

5. Four enrichment lectures scheduled tomorrow. And Magic-at-Sea (rez required) tomorrow afternoon. 
 

6. A/C onboard is fabulous considering it is hotter than hades and wetter than a steam room outside.

 

Rob

[ryndam]

Reflections and menu.

F8E3B9B1-0F09-47E7-AC7F-49E765226C66.pdf 2DF72703-10CC-4F1A-AC14-539D1B17FC96.pdf

[gmarsh]

Happy day, hope you guys are having a fine time!

 

FISH and chips...the one menu item I didn't get to have!

It was on the LUNCH menu in Waterside🤪

 

I saw a video of Serenity in a Cruise Critic review...not on this board, but up front and now I can't find it.

 

[ryndam]

Puerto Caldera. A “sea day” for us. Been there. Done that. It’s nice being onboard when the majority of guests are ashore on tour.

 

Rob

[gmarsh]

6 hours ago, ryndam said:

Puerto Caldera. A “sea day” for us. Been there. Done that. It’s nice being onboard when the majority of guests are ashore on tour.

 

Rob

howdy!

 

are there any pax getting off to go home from here?  Any newbie’s getting on?

 

Reason is, this will be a stop on a future trip and I’m wondering how the airport thing works.  Bus ?  Which aero port is used?

 

cheers

 

G

[Roland4]

1 hour ago, gmarsh said:

howdy!

 

are there any pax getting off to go home from here?  Any newbie’s getting on?

 

Reason is, this will be a stop on a future trip and I’m wondering how the airport thing works.  Bus ?  Which aero port is used?

 

cheers

 

G

Unless things have changed, and I don't think they have, the international airport is in San Jose, which is a two hour ride from Caldera. We did it years ago on Crystal and the airport transfer was a good two hours on a "past its prime" highway bus!

[ryndam]

1 hour ago, gmarsh said:

howdy!

 

are there any pax getting off to go home from here?  Any newbie’s getting on?

 

Reason is, this will be a stop on a future trip and I’m wondering how the airport thing works.  Bus ?  Which aero port is used?

 

cheers

 

G

No pax on or off today. I think some travel agents boarded today and possible some new entertainers. 
 

Larry is correct. We disembarked in Puerta Caldera from Symphony in 2019. It is a long ride to the airport in San Jose. We used Crystal’s group transportation because it was way more economical than arranging our own transport.

 

Rob

[ryndam]

Reflections and menus

 

1E4DBDA5-4D5B-4D5B-B0BF-D9072DF96038.pdf C22C576D-6842-4E87-80F3-A558CF7D652E.pdf DDB9F409-7F69-42A1-832F-E6B93C1D31ED.pdf

[SandJCruiser]

We lived in Costa Rica for seven years and the airport is actually in Alajuela, which is not as far as San Jose.  It's about an hour or a little more, assuming no traffic issues. Roads are good; it's freeway just about the whole way.   I would agree, however, that the Crystal transfer would probably be the wisest choice in this case.

[ryndam]

Reflections and menu

8B3F8AB6-DFC9-4FCA-ACDC-08B438152223.pdf 64E64A2C-43F6-4A03-AE4A-C4862FBDCDFC.pdf

[ryndam]

Welcome to El Salvador.

[ryndam]

We enjoyed a private Vintage Room dinner last night. 14 bottles of wine. 3.5 hours of conversation, wining, dining and good times. I rarely post “food porn” pics, but here they are anyway.
 

Rob

 

 

[360Guy]

1 hour ago, ryndam said:

We enjoyed a private Vintage Room dinner last night. 14 bottles of wine. 3.5 hours of conversation, wining, dining and good times. I rarely post “food porn” pics, but here they are anyway.
 

Rob

 

 

Thank you Rob for posting these wonderful pictures of your dinner!  A fantastic food and wine pairing.   Can’t wait for our Vancouver cruise…

[ryndam]

Presentation of the port plaque to the captain.

 

 

[USCAdventurer]

yes, thank you, rob for posting the pictures of your vintage room dinner.  it really looked fabulous!  

[rafinmd]

5 hours ago, ryndam said:

Presentation of the port plaque to the captain.

 

 

 

 

I was thinking that may have been a Maiden Call, but it't the first time I've seen a plaque exchange in public.  FWIW, I was long wondering what the port got in exchange and finally saw one on display in I St. Helena, probably typical for at least Old Crystal:

 

 

I think I've also seen one in Charlottetown but not sure.

 

Roy

[ryndam]

Reflections attached. Menus not posted yet.

287D7435-0F81-4C25-9312-44A993581C8B.pdf

[ryndam]

Tonight’s menu.

 

7984988B-22B1-40A7-AA00-FB06A30F11E8.pdf

[ryndam]

Captain’s announcement: expect very high winds tonight and ship movement.

 

Butler’s guidance: move the liquor bottles to the sofa again.

 

Rather calm at the moment. Thanks for the warning!  🥴🤪🫢🤢

[ryndam]

Reflections attached. Menu not online yet.

 

It’s windy tonite. All the balcony cushions were brought into the cabin. The liquor is secured on the sofa. There’s a very noticeable list to port since the wind is coming at us directly starboard. Not as bumpy as the ride to Cartagena last week however. The Pacific is not calm tonight.

 

Rob

 

E79D67DD-D3A3-4B95-AF4D-655FB27CD05B.pdf

[ryndam]

Screenshot of our current conditions and location.

 

 

[ryndam]

Today’s menu.

 

572281CA-7D9C-4773-9366-1D1085D4DA81.pdf

[Mrs. Claypool]

A rough and noisy night, indeed!  Our cabin is on the port side and we had to struggle uphill every time we wanted to get to the bathroom!

 

Emily

[ryndam]

Huatulco. This port is the only new destination for us in 30 days. It’s a bit like Cabo was 35 years ago before it became overdeveloped. The US and Canadian coast guard keeps cutters nearby in an attempt to slow the illegal drug trade from Guatemala and further south. The beach is literally at the end of the pier.

 

Rob

Edited January 29 by ryndam

[gmarsh]

23 hours ago, ryndam said:

Captain’s announcement: expect very high winds tonight and ship movement.

 

Butler’s guidance: move the liquor bottles to the sofa again.

 

Rather calm at the moment. Thanks for the warning!  🥴🤪🫢🤢

Happy to sea your progress!  Like you said, this is your first “new” port in a while.  Are you still going ashore or hanging back in the calm?

 

Pic from our Barcelona crossing near the Azores it got hairy.

G