rubrrick

Paulette: A few years ago Teens had a fad creating their Prom Dresses and Tux out of Duct Tape. There's even a boat making contest on the web...I thought it might be fun to see what we could come up with at M&M.

 

We got the Cruise Directors staff to judge the creations. ...it was a phenomenal success, there were something like 12 entries and lots of chatting and mingling occurred. I bought little prizes like mini flash lights etc. for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd winners. I think the winner was a lady who made a purse, headband and jewelry. My DH made a tie. People really got creative and clever. Here's a video of the winner...

 

View My Video

 

Becci, I was there and you really made one of the more memorable M&M's.

I remember you worked on advertising this on CC, and then when the time came to have people reveal their creations, it turned out to be great fun.

Rick

I have been on very active roll calls, with plans to meet at sail away. There would be upwards of 50 people planning to meet, when in reality we were lucky if 5 showed up.

 

As far as the M & M on the ship, it is normally scheduled around 9 - 9:30 on any of the ships I have been on. Most people don't want to rush or they want to sleep in the first morning of a cruise. Any of the recent ones I've been to they raffle off a couple of cheap trinkets, and as soon as it's over everyone runs out. There is no mingling.

Thank you gaylemh! This is what I'm talking about, and the fact that it is hard to even meet someone that you have corresponded with on CC....half the time they don't show up.

Time for me to go back to my lurking.:D

Rick

I think the popularity of CC in general has decreased in the last few years. There are so many social media platforms out there and I think it has diluted the CC base. too bad!:(

 

BILL

Bill, you are quite right. The M&M's start with Cruise Critic, and in the past few years, CC has come up with new rules regarding social media, and is not as highly thought of today. Also, some of the "old timers" that were so good with information, that was spot on, sadly have passed away.

On board, unless we are doing a TA, or other longer cruise, we still attend the M&M's to support them, but they are definitely declining in attendance, and the social style of today is not what it was some years ago.

Times have changed, and what was really good at one point in the past, is now not nearly as fun at it once was!!

Pax vobiscum!!:)

Rick

just got word from one of my sources that Capt Claus is currently working with the start up team on Ovation of the Seas.

Thanks wolf. It would be nice for Royal Caribbean to come out and say what Captain Claus is doing for them at this moment. It would make many very happy!!:)

Rick

Bob,

Had to edit my post after my almost 70 year old brain came up with another option.

Werner's friend on Oasis started these sandwiches, and Werner got the idea from him. Sorry for the confusion. Actually, the Monarch's sandwiches with Werner's touch, were the best !

To add a bit here, we met Werner at the roast beef sandwich place on Monarch at sailaway. We had a great conversation and he invited us to a private tour of the galley. Just he, Deirdra and I and we had a really wonderful private galley tour. Hope to sail with him again.

R&D

Hi Rick

Werner Zurcher has been taking care of us for many years. And you do have your facts correct, it was Werners friend that came up with the idea for these, now famous, roast beef sandwiches.

I can't remember that ship that we were on, but Werner sent 4 of these to our cabin one day, and they were better than what we had tasted on the Allure of the Seas, at their Park Cafe.

Werner is a wonderful man, dedicated to his job at Royal Caribbean, and one of the best F&B's around.

Rick

This year on our b2b, we met in the lounge and did our change-over right there. We didn't have to get off the ship. They brought the customs officer onboard. They had a special lunch for us as well. It was quite nice.

We have also experienced having an inspector come aboard to check our passports, but only in foreign countries. In the United States, we have always had to disembark, go thru customs, as a group of b2b passengers, and then return to the ship once the count is at zero.

Depending on the ship and the size of the b2b group, we have enjoyed a very nice private lunch in the MDR.

Rick

Karen, Captain Henrik is still on board Anthem until at least the start of the March 27th cruise which is when we board. I'll try to find out something then for you and post here.

Sorry Patti, I thought that you were already aboard.

Rick

Wolf, my understanding from Patti (cruisenfever) who is presently aboard the Anthem, that Captain Henrik Loft Sorensen is still aboard.

She went on to tell me that there is no word on board the Anthem as to when or if Captain Claus would return. After the letter from Michael Bayley, praising Captain Claus, I would have expected him to be back in command by now.

If there is anyone aboard the Anthem now, that could ask the CD, Abe Hughes, what he knows, he was with Claus when they encountered the hurricane, and may know if and when Claus will rejoin the ship.

Rick

Interesting, this post plus NCEMT's Pullmantur announcement.

 

If those recall rumors are true, I wonder where Royal would put Sovereign and Monarch? It seems that cruiselines are sending their newer, larger ships to Asia rather than these classics. Perhaps the folks complaining about Anthem and wishing it would leave New Jersey might be happy with getting one of these classic gals instead?

Well, I wonder what it would cost Royal Caribbean to make the Monarch "green" so that she could come back to the West Coast, and sail full on her old 3/4 night schedule. California now requires all ships that call on California ports more than a certain number of sailings to be able to plug into shore power, and power down all "gas" emitting engines while in port.

I have been told by more than one Royal Caribbean executive that the Monarch on the West Coast, and the Majesty and Sovereign on the East Coast were the old tried and true "cash cows". This statement goes back a ways, but Carnival and Princess have ships running out of California, so why not Royal Caribbean???:)

Yes, that series of Mariner cruises may have been a once in a lifetime opportunity. Hard to see them sending a Voyager (or larger) class ship to the west coast again.

It was and we stay in touch with many people that we met on that 3 legged cruise. Truly a once in a lifetime event!:)

Rick

Captain Henrik is still on board for the March 19th cruise.

Thanks Patti. Any word from onboard when Captain Claus will return?

Rick

Speaking of Captain Claus, does anyone onboard know if he will be returning to his command on the Anthem today??

Rick

Well, if you want him to post, just do something wrong!!:D:D

I think that you are correct Patti, as it shows him to be moderating as I write this.:)

Hi Tony!!

Rick

I think that you need Aquahound to be on the job.:D Do you remember when he found a camera and was able to trace it back to it's owner, and returned it.

If no one responds while you are aboard, and by the way, great job in trying to locate this person, probably the best choice would be to turn the tablets in to guest services, with all the information that you can give them, and hope that the owner contacts Miami to see if the ship has them.

I sincerely hope that Collin White, by now, is missing these tablets.

Rick

Do they serve them only on day 1? or every day?

thanks

Everyday. The roast beef sandwich, I believe is called their Kemmelwick (not sure of the spelling) for the type of rolls used. It's one of my favorite Royal Caribbean signature food items!

Rick

I'm very happy.......so far, for Lucky Lady T. Wasn't she the one that wanted to cancel her cruise after the heavy storm cruise?

I love the change of attitude, and truly hope that you enjoy the rest of your cruise as you have indicated that you enjoyed day one. Keep up your reports, good or bad, and enjoy your cruise!!:)

Rick

Wow Rick!! :eek: And here I remember when you had "just a lowly 900 points". ;) :p :p

 

Congrats on your milestone! And if you decide to chat with the LA on Serenade....perhaps you could clue her in about when and on what ship we get our milestone crystal blocks? :D

 

Sorry we will miss you two on Serenade. We are on Rhapsody (our first time on that one)

in December (Bucky's choice) out of Tampa. Then "Welcome to PC Oasis" cruise for us

in January. Back to Serenade for the 11 night in February.

Maybe we can catch up with you sometime next year. It would be great to cruise with you two again!!:)

Do you remember the name of the LA on the Serenade? There are many on here (like Patti and Jim) and other PC members, that know the whole routine, and could chat with the LA. The one thing that is totally consistent with Royal Caribbean, is they are consistently..........non consistent, and it runs ship to ship, and in Miami, from supervisor to supervisor.

Rick

Hi Rick!! :)

 

I bet the LA on Serenade would not want to get into a discussion with you on who

is right or wrong! She would lose!! :eek: ;)

Hi Pat. We will be on the Serenade this coming December, and not a milestone, except that we are planning for this cruise to be a bit discounted as it will come after our 1400th cruise point coming up this fall.

Rick

We disembarked Serenade last Friday from the 11 night. About half way through the cruise, we received a call from the LA saying that there were no crystal blocks available on the ship.

 

We were to receive (and did receive) a certificate noting our milestone the following evening. She went on to say that the block will be mailed to our home within 6 to 8 weeks.

 

I wondered if they had started mailing the blocks on other ships instead of giving them onboard? Or if this was just a temporary shortage?

 

~P :)

The norm is to receive your block on the cruise that you reach your milestone. We have only experienced once when the ship had run out of blocks, and it was delivered to our home some 3 weeks after our cruise had ended.

Rick

Back at the pier, safe and sound. Sounds like people had a good time.

With weather being an issue to get to Halifax, the foreign port where Anthem was supposed to dock, will the cruise line have to pay a fine for making this a "cruise to nowhere?"

Maybe someone with the knowledge of how CTN's are no longer allowed, what are the exceptions, if any, to get around the fine that a cruise line would pay.

Thanks,

Rick

18. In Roatan, does the Liberty dock at Mahogany Bay or the other cruise dock?

 

Sorry for the obscure questions, but thanks again!

Royal Caribbean docks at Coxen Hole, South West of the airport. Carnival docks at Mahogany Bay.

Rick

Thank you! For us the day came when the destination was key thing and we had more time to explore and not need just take a "recharge" vacation. That's why so many people taking these destination focused "busy" itineraries are retired, they can rest when they get home! LOL!

 

 

Where to? Actually most AZ journeys do not have so many sea days, this one was unusual, our upcoming Adriatic Sea cruise has not ONE! I'll be posting the Pursuits daily program so you can see what kinds of things there are to do on board.

Thank you for such a wonderful and true comparison. We, too, tried the Azamara Journey last summer for a Greek Island and Sicily cruise. It was more expensive than being on a Royal Caribbean ship, but we loved to be back onboard an old "R" ship, with an incredible crew and staff.

When we find the right itinerary, we will again cruise on Azamara.:)

Rick

While it is terrible, you can never tell anything from a short chit-chat with someone. You don't know him, really. Others were just pointing out that there are only a couple of possibilities and the reality is, it's impossible to just fall overboard without something else being involved.

 

Over the ten years we've been cruising, everyone who has been reported as fallen off have either been drunk and did something stupid or intentionally went over. No one can just be walking along and trip and go over the side. The media always says "fall" just like they always say "alleged".

Very well said.

Rick

Congratulations Mario! Looking forward to cruising with you again in the future.:)

Rick

That is what I saw on the letter posted in regards to the two days being refunded; it stated if not used goes back to original form of payment.

 

But in another paragraph on the letter regarding canceled excursions for missed ports it just says refunded as OBC and no mention of if not used going back to original form of payment.

 

 

LMaxwell, I believe that anytime one books an excursion, and then later cancels for whatever reason, within the allowed time frame, or the ship cancels, a refund is made in the form of a "refundable OBC."

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

Rick