OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK JUNE 2024

[morpheusofthesea]

Well, boys and girls, if we make to the port of Miami tomorrow morning, I hope to entertain you all with more observations. Looking forward to the Seascape again. The weather has been dismal. Lucky for us we cruise for the ship. Our last cruise on the Seascape was in April, a couple months ago and it was the best cruise we ever had. Not just one of the best, but the best. Everybody should still be there that contributed to the grand time we had. We are driving and parking at the port in the parking garage. This time of year it behooves those parking in any garage that they not park on the ground floor due to flooding nor off site parking ground level. When they get back to Miami and all the flood water recedes and they find their cars do not start will be in a pickle. No one will take responsibility. 

[Best Cat Mom]

Buon viaggio, caro Morph! We will be on Seascape in September. I'm hoping that you discover that Ercan and Anna are extending their contracts and will still be in charge of the TS restaurant then. They were a great team for us on Seaside last year. Ercan was especially kind to me and accommodating to my gluten allergy. For anyone who has a food allergy, knowing what and who to expect makes a world of difference.

 

Safe travels on the road tomorrow. 🙂

[no1talks]

Do enjoy yourself, sir, and best regards to Mme. Morpheus. It will not be long before 2026 is here and Seascape is sent to Galveston.




 

[DaKahuna]

1 hour ago, Best Cat Mom said:

We will be on Seascape in September.

 When in September will you be sailing?  We have a B2B on Seascape 9/21-9/28 and 9/28-10/5. 
 

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Well, boys and girls, if we make to the port of Miami tomorrow morning, I hope to entertain you all with more observations. Looking forward to the Seascape again.

 We wish you all the best. Looking forward to you observations as always, especially since we will be sailing on her later this year. 
 

[Best Cat Mom]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

When in September will you be sailing?  We have a B2B on Seascape 9/21-9/28 and 9/28-10/5. 

Our second week is the same as your first. We'll buy you a round in TSL. 🙂

[DaKahuna]

38 minutes ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Our second week is the same as your first. We'll buy you a round in TSL. 🙂

Look forward to meeting you and BCD both.  Will do my best to start adding to the collection of wires and corks going for his creations. 
 

Edited June 15 by DaKahuna

[Corriegr]

Hope we get to say hello during the coming week as we are on our second week

[Bgwest]

Splendid! Another thread filled with entertaining repartee. 
Can’t wait!!😃

[phissy]

What a treat. 
I am looking forward to another entertaining and informative thread.

These reports become a mental vacation for me and the wait time until our November cruise is filled with anticipation.

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Got to port and with our self made “Priority MSC Yacht Club Priority” laminated car dash sign, we were able to pull right up to the white tent in front of Terminal C and unload. It was sprinkling over cast morning but we were under the tent. The staff were setting up the tent at 8:30 am and porter arrived at 9:10. The terminal opened at 9:45. Terminal was real cold waiting for security screening, but was more pleasant upstairs waiting to board.

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Got to port and with our self made “Priority MSC Yacht Club Priority” laminated car dash sign, we were able to pull right up to the white tent in front of Terminal C and unload.

 

Another idea that I'm going to steal. It's much easier than rolling down the window and yelling "Yacht Club..." when the staff tries to direct me away. 😁

[morpheusofthesea]

19 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Another idea that I'm going to steal. It's much easier than rolling down the window and yelling "Yacht Club..." when the staff tries to direct me away. 😁

I have the navy YC logo blown up on it. I will try to remember to take a photo of it and post. In the meantime I left it hidden in the car because leaving it on the dash is a temptation too great for yokels in steerage to take their wrath out on my vehicle.

[morpheusofthesea]

There are 5711 on this sailing. 291 in YC of which 35 are children. Mistakes are constantly made. It would behoove those sailing that the other Royal suite is available. For some reason MSC had us booked in both. We only paid for one. I think. I immediately called my TA and she said I only paid for one. (I better text her again).

[Corriegr]

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

There are 5711 on this sailing. 291 in YC of which 35 are children. Mistakes are constantly made. It would behoove those sailing that the other Royal suite is available. For some reason MSC had us booked in both. We only paid for one. I think. I immediately called my TA and she said I only paid for one. (I better text her again).

Of the 291 there are 11 of us on second week of b2b which was an “interesting” experience this morning.

[Two Wheels Only]

48 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

It would behoove those sailing that the other Royal suite is available. For some reason MSC had us booked in both. We only paid for one.

 

The same thing happened to me on Meraviglia. They eventually sorted everything out.

[morpheusofthesea]

35 minutes ago, Corriegr said:

interesting” experience this morning.

Well… Don’t leave us hanging. Tell us what was so interesting?

[morpheusofthesea]

Muster drill was a breeze. Went to lunch in YC Restaurant greeted by Nicholas Cage’s dark haired cousin Ercan (ersjon) and new assistant, hostess Nelly. Ercan was kind enough to give us our old table and same waiter, Raymond. We were told that wait contracts are being cut back to 7 months from 9.Doesn’t know what ship he will be reassigned to. Weather is nice and overcast. TA called me back immediately to tell me not to worry (thank you @Two Wheels Only, you are right). She caught mistake and tried informing MSC during a transfer of this on board booking to her with another booking number that she was given. The deposit was also transferred to the new booking number, but MSC never cancelled the original and still did not cancel after final payment was never received on original booking. This is another example of the importance of dealing with a knowledgeable travel agent. (It is also a wake-up call for me to double check DW credit card statements).

[Corriegr]

25 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Well… Don’t leave us hanging. Tell us what was so interesting?

I guess just the usual for seasoned b2b’ers seeing zeros going off in all directions bar the immigration hall then being corralled through what seemed like a an empty warehouse. My wife thought we were about to be deported to Guantanamo… guess just normal stuff but first time for us sensitive Brits. 
 

To be fair seemed longer but left TopSail at 10:38 and was back there with drink in hand by 11:12. 

[morpheusofthesea]

4 minutes ago, Corriegr said:

Guantanamo…

Guantanamo. That reminds me, DW asked if she should pack a pair of binoculars. Appears the newest Caribbean pastime is switching from dolphins to Russian war game vessels and submarines. I said sure. What are the chances of another incident like “Remember the Maine”.

[morpheusofthesea]

Service has been over the top. Right from the terminal to our cabin. Nothing compares to this service in the cruise world today. Have to admit that Explora Journey in a Residence suite came closest, but still not to the extent of Yacht Club, when it comes to first impressions.We were greeted inside the terminal and escorted onto the ship to our cabin. Got our luggage at 1:45.

  Dinner was superb, better than April, same Chef Sean. Tonight we start with Le Cabaret Rouge because from experience no one knows the ship’s best vocalists do their own thing just this one night of the entire cruise. They are not part of the first night’s Chora Theatre production of Imaginocean, which we plan to catch later this evening. Forgot to mention that at check in all that was required were our passports. Our boarding paper was superfluous. They only took my photo, DW photo was acceptable that she did on line. I guess my mug shot didn’t pass muster.

Edited June 15 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is my critique of tonight's shows in Le Cabaret Rouge. The violinist Paul is mediocre, the good news is this is his last week on board. Resident singer Jacquay is just tolerable and a bit bizarre. Chora Theatre's Sara is unique in her interpretations of popular songs. She told the audience she will take the Le Cabaret Rouge Stage again Monday or Tuesday. We look forward to that. You be the judges.

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"The violinist Paul is mediocre, the good news is this is his last week on board."

Speaking of violin music, Morpheus, please advise whether or not there is still a smattering of public area string trio/quartet music these days. I suspect live music in MSC ships' thoroughfares will feature less (if any) classical music on the itineraries out of the US. 

[morpheusofthesea]

5 hours ago, no1talks said:

Speaking of violin music, Morpheus, please advise whether or not there is still a smattering of public area string trio/quartet music these days. I suspect live music in MSC ships' thoroughfares will feature less (if any) classical music on the itineraries out of the US. 

You are correct. Have yet to visit our favorite Loft Cafe. Will report.

[no1talks]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Have yet to visit our favorite Loft Cafe."

 

I'm happy just to see a string group playing in the Atrium a few time during a cruise. On-stage classical music is asking too much these days on mass-market lines.

 

Even Holland America slashed their classical music availability.

[perakcruiser]

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

Speaking of violin music, Morpheus, please advise whether or not there is still a smattering of public area string trio/quartet music these days. I suspect live music in MSC ships' thoroughfares will feature less (if any) classical music on the itineraries out of the US. 

With our last two MSC cruises in November 23 and May 24 in mind, I have to say that it went down to zero in Europe also 😞

 

Celebrity (!) provided a lot of great music in January 24. Europe goes goes down the drain in so many ways, really sad to see.