OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK SEASCAPE SEPTEMBER

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

What's your favorite of the top shelf ? I'll leave a bottle with @Best Cat Mom to gift to you.

 

That's a very generous offer but when I commented I was more or less thinking about passengers on the cruise with you.  However, if I must, then the Jack Daniels would be the first choice. 

 

 Since we are doing a B2B we will have 2 bottles of our own we will be having to bring home with us.  So, if you find someone else who is worthy, feel free to donate that one to them.  

 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

So, if you find someone else who is worthy, feel free to donate that one to them.  

My offering has little to do with worthiness (as we all have value) and everything to do with kindness, which is a rarity.

P.S. I am sure that one can always find more room in suitcase for one more bottle of JD. One less YC towel ?

Edited September 13 by morpheusofthesea

[DaKahuna]

5 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

My offering has little to do with worthiness (as we all have value) and everything to do with kindness, which is a rarity.

 

 Well your kindness is greatly appreciated.  

 

5 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

P.S. I am sure that one can always find more room in suitcase for one more bottle of JD. 

 

 I cannot promise the bottle will survive 14-days.  I am a little partial to a little JD & Diet Coke, especially if I can find fresh lemon slices.   

 

 Speaking of bottles, the ABC store here just opened and I need to go and find something to take as a present for our middle grandson.  My daughter, her husband, my wife and I are going up to his college in PA today and attending his football game tomorrow.  My wife has made egg salad, his favorite and sushi for him and I'm getting him a bottle of Japanese whisky or tequila. 

 

8 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

One less YC towel ?

 

Do not have a collection of those yet.  Maybe I'll start. 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

9 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Do not have a collection of those yet. 

Not our color scheme. Besides dark blue fades terribly in South Florida.

P.S. The MSC logo shop sells the YC towels for $39 each. DW would make me choose, either your liquor or the towels.... the liquor wins every time.

Edited September 13 by morpheusofthesea

[Bgwest]

Delighted to know that you are back for another trip/thread!!

[Ottawa_Cruiser]

Can't wait to follow along with you, as usual. You and @JamieLogical provide the best "lives". Have a wonderful trip!

[morpheusofthesea]

Reading the other posts about problem smells in cabins and hallways..... This is mostly in steerage corridors and cabins for some reason. (Let us not jump to any conclusions).  Several months ago I hosted a live from MSC's new Explora 1 comparing it to its own Yacht Clubs. I found the Yacht Clubs superior in several categories that were important to me. (see my list of 29 essentials to look for in a cruise ship). If one can forego the Royal Treatment one receives in YC, for the same price I recommend the Explora ships (no need for a butler on Explora, no lines to butt to the front). But there was one striking difference the moment one steps on board Explora, the smell. (Recall when the first Seaship entered service, Seaside, the smell reports were not great). One is hit by this very pleasant fragrance. Noticed the same fragrance in our stateroom coming from a diffuser. After day 3 DW got a headache and I had butler remove diffuser and she regained her pleasant disposition. Just saying that maybe the attention to these details helps with this situation ? Or is it just an overall higher class cruiser that doesn't contribute to the smell to begin with, like in the YC.

[CarolnLarry]

Tried to send you a message but it said this was disabled.  

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, CarolnLarry said:

Tried to send you a message but it said this was disabled.  

Messaging has never been enabled on Cruise Critic except for mods to message each other and you.  EM

[Georgia_Peaches]

Happy embarkation day!  

[morpheusofthesea]

All unpacked and taking this moment to report some really good news.First the hour drive only took 45 minutes. The traffic was much lighter than normal. Snowbirds are probably waiting to vote  back home before returning to South Florida. Wonder how many will vote when they get back ?

  Crossing guards were stopping non commercial cars from turning into blue tent Yacht Club baggage drop off. Got out my blue logo placard stating I was Yacht Club and was allowed entry. Parked on second level of parking garage in event of flooding. 
  4764 passengers this cruise, best news only 180 in Yacht Club. Which means no YC giveaways, move ups, cheapening the YC with steerage. Best to just bite the bullet and book your favorite YC cabin as far in advance as possible for the lowest price than wait for an upgrade bid that results in paying more than the original fare.

[morpheusofthesea]

Butlers from the ship came into terminal just as security screening began at 10:30. We were helped with carryon from screening to checkin then immediately to YC holding area for champagne and assorted can nuts. Only had time for one drink as boarding began at 10:50. We followed B2Bers back onto the ship, actually they opened a special YC line, which was welcomed and we did not have to wait for all the B2Bers which there were quite a few. Our butler escorted us to are ready and waiting cleaned cabin. Met our new YC Director, Dani. Just as nice and accommodating as Mustafa. We have Marcelo on as Head Butler (he was made acting YC Director when Mustafa left and will be YC Director shortly on another ship.) Went to YC restaurant to arrange our table and was introduced to Maitre D’, Marion. Again, very accommodating. And Best news of all the YC restaurant has the best chef in the MSC fleet on board, Chef Lisa. This has all the earmarks of being a great cruise.

[ChanelChanel35]

3 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

best chef in the MSC fleet on board, Chef Lisa

Excited to be following along again! Do you know how long Chef Lisa will be on? Hoping to have her end of March for our sailing!

[morpheusofthesea]

Heard mentioned that yesterday the ship was in Ocean Cay and the heat was so stifling that all the YCers just decided to have lunch at Ocean House and ran back to the air conditioned comfort of the ship after lunch.

[morpheusofthesea]

4 minutes ago, ChanelChanel35 said:

Excited to be following along again! Do you know how long Chef Lisa will be on? Hoping to have her end of March for our sailing!

Will find out, though doubtful. She expressed that she was slated to open World America.

[Gordoncruickshank]

Enjoy your cruise.

[morpheusofthesea]

Lots of repeaters on this cruise besides B2Bers.

[no1talks]

39 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Lots of repeaters...

Like Jimmy 'Two-Times' perhaps?



If anything, I'd expect to see him on Meraviglia, out of New York.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 09:56 PM by no1talks

[Mommapadraig]

Thank you for taking us along! 

[morpheusofthesea]

Dinner was superb. What did I have? It doesn’t matter. Everyone’s taste is different. Found new entrees I hadn’t seen before. But still old favorites. Don’t gloss over the vegetarian section as apple crumble was listed only there and not with the desserts. It came within a short time, hot and cooked just as ordered. We had a new couple of waiters  we hadn’t seen before. Waiter wears a gold tie and assistant black tie. Very attentive. Usually when one visits most restaurants one has to ask the maitre d’ for a table near a waiter.

  So far the sea is like glass. Got to Le Cabaret Rouge for the 7:30 show start. Like always no one knows it is the best evening of the cruise to see this show because two of the performers do their own thing just once a week while not caste in the Imaginocean show production in the Chora Theatre. The rest of the ship turns up the rest of the week.

[kelleherdl]

On 9/13/2024 at 10:12 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

Not our color scheme. Besides dark blue fades terribly in South Florida.

P.S. The MSC logo shop sells the YC towels for $39 each. DW would make me choose, either your liquor or the towels.... the liquor wins every time.

I need to check this out. My recollection was that MSC was assiduously avoiding selling any Yacht Club logo items. I’d love to change the towels on my home pool loungers to the YC Blue.

[CarolnLarry]

21 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Messaging has never been enabled on Cruise Critic except for mods to message each other and you.  EM

Thanks You. You would. think after all the time I have been on here I would know this.

[morpheusofthesea]

A lot less children on this cruise. Most are back in school. entire ship is less crowded than April, June, & July. Still have the adult layabouts (see photo below).

[morpheusofthesea]

Skipped the Chora Theatre show production of Imaginocean so as not to miss the onetime acts tonight in Le Cabaret Rouge. Here is a 1:49 clip of an adagio act that is still on board from July, Duo Fusion. Their act hasn't changed. There is another violinist, she plays better pieces than the last violinist. The only piece I recognized was Pachelbel's canon. (No, not a tacobell franchise on Seascape). Songstress Jessica changed up her set with rock classics.She was introduced by the MC as being the youngest winner of some Las Vegas Cyndi Lauper impressionist act. To be honest I wish she did that act than the one she performed tonight. (Last cruise the MC introduced her as the niece of MSC's owner). Entertainment in LCR is continuous most nights from 7:30 to 11:00. Then the DJ takes over.

  Understood that a couple weeks ago there was a comedian in LCR, which we never experienced, only in the Chora Theatre was the comedian. It was reported that the comedian went too far and upset a passenger that ended up in an altercation in LCR and his dismissal. It might never have happened had the comedian stuck to the Chora Theatre. LCR is too intimate with the stage as part of the dance floor and tables so close to the stage. People are always having too much to drink and becoming part of the act in LCR.

   We left LCR at 9:10 to get seats for the BBJazz Quartet in the Loft Cafe. They play 30 minute sets until 12 with 20 minute breaks.

  There is also the Star Band that starts 30 minute sets in the UpTown Lounge with intermitent breaks for 1 hour game show, dance class, trivia, karoke.

  In between we stopped by the Specialty restaurant desk to see if it would be possible to make a reservation for lunch at any restaurant Ocean Cay day. Our only "NO". No restaurant is open on board the Seascape Ocean Cay Day. This shows us how much weight a survey questionnaire counts for...nothing.

  It took this video 50 minutes to upload with just the complimentary browse package. I am upgrading now to streaming for an additional $70 total for the week for 2 devices.

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

, best news only 180 in Yacht Club. Which means no YC giveaways, move ups, cheapening the YC with steerage.

Perhaps MSC has discovered, like most of the world's great tourist cities, that the cheap steerage types don't spend enough while visiting to make it worth there while to entertain them.