minn0315

I'm on this sailing too! You could wait until later in the cruise when it might be cheaper!

We now have the Compass for tomorrow, day 6, Thursday. The price is still $20 for first device and $10 for second. A one day, 24 hour, package for one (1) device is still $40!!!!

The wifi on the ship is painfully slow. I had better service for free at a gift shop on shore in St Lucia today.

After lunch we went to the pools. The movie on the big screen on the pool deck 11 started at 1 pm, Furious 7. This is an action film where you don't have to think too hard about a plot. Perfect fun film for watching while floating in the pool.

It was so sunny today that we went to our stateroom about 3:30 for a nap. We went to the WJ for dinner because the theme was Indian food. I love tikka masala, etc. and they had so many choices that were great! But of course they always have the standards: the most popular of that I saw tonight was mashed potatoes and gravy...

Then off to "Shades of Buble' " at 7:00 pm in the large Lyric Theater. As I suspected it was three guys imitating Michael Buble' imitating other singers; Sinatra, Bennett, etc. so it was a show of imitators imitating an imitator. We walked out early.

At 8:00 pm we went to the Imperial lounge on deck 5 for 50s & 60s Rock and roll party. Live band! Excellent dancers from among the passengers like you and me. It was so much fun. Some of these small venue events are some of the best entertainment on cruises.

At abou 9:00 we went to the Schooner bar on deck 4 for adult karaoke. Our fellow passengers have a lot of courage, and a lot of drinks, to get up in front of everyone and, for the most part, sing off key. Lots of fun!

As to MTD, we are traditional early diners. I know from experience that on larger ships like Oasis and Allure that they will block a dinner reservation and a theater show that are not two hours or more apart. We sit down on six on this Adventure cruise and we are out of the MDR by 6:50 and can make the 7:00 pm show. (Mind you, table for two, with menus well known, so ordering is done as soon as we sit) Most hardliners are at 7 and 9 . Other production shows vary, so no definite answer as to MTD and shows...sorry.

We use a travel agent because she has given us perks that RCI would not. On our Navigator we had both a complimentary dinner for two in Chops. Then she also upgraded my premium drink package to ultimate package.

On this Adventure we are on right now we have dinner for two in Giovanni's Table as a gift.

She also contacts dining and room attendants to make sure our every request is met. TAs make good commissions for these cruises and good ones pass them on to loyal customers. Also RCI wants to keep them happy to keep recommending these cruises, so they are very responsive to TA requests and communications.

Back on board after being ashore in St Lucia. This is such a beautiful, friendly island. Given that and the absolutley gorgeous sunny weather, low humidity, and blue water and sky is exactly what I want in a Caribbean cruise. In the winter of the northern US, this is what I dream of.

We entered the harbor forward. Then the captain did a 180 degree turn so that we are now facing the sea but we are docked Starboard. Our neighbor, the Jewel of the Seas, is also docked Starboard but they are away at the next pier across the harbor facing forward into land.

This is day 5, Wednesday. The drink of the day is Pirate's Hurricane $10 plus 18%, not to be mistaken for Pirate's Punch a couple of days ago. LOL. The dinner menu this evening is Sage. Dress suggestion is casual. Chef's recommended entree is mustard-crusted roast beef. (When we looked at the menus for the week we thought this would be one to miss. But...Giovanni's has the mystery theater tonight and we didn't care to do that.). So we'll see what we eat tonight.

The headliner show in the big Lyric Theater is "Shade of Buble' ". A three man trio doing a tribute to the songs of Michael Buble'. But isn't Michael Buble' doing tributes to Sinatra, Bennett, Bobby Darren, etc.? So I wonder if this is a tribute to a tribute... Showtimes at 7 and 9.

Movie on the big outdoor screen on the pool deck tonight is Jurassic World at 8:45.

Ok. I'm done trying to be helpful when thousands of people on CC wanted to know about CD and AD. When you attack me personally it is over.

As to my authenticity, just ask the thousands of patients I have helped in my 36 years as a licensed, board certified physician and surgeon. If have not lived a truthful, honest life both in person and professionally, I would have failed in life and medicine long, long ago.

I do find it interesting that there are character assassinations on members of CC every day; but on roll call boards where you will actually will meet other members face to face there are none. Nor is there snark.

With regard to WJ food. We have been very satisfied with the quality and flavors. If the MDR does fish well, the WJ does curries very well. Being from Minnesota where we have very mild taste buds, all of the different curries have been seasoned to perfection.

There are also many vegetarian dishes available in the WJ. Also, if you look at the evening menus for the MDR, the WJ will have at least two of the soups offered there as well. For example, one night both places had lobster bisque, and another night they had roasted garlic soup.

When I get back on board the ship later I'll give the drink of the day, tonight's menu and tonight's theater show.

Docked in St Lucia now. Bright sunshine with clear bright blue sky. Calm tropical breeze. This pier is even shorter than Antigua. Need government photo ID to reenter dock to ship at this port also.

Shops are right here next to the ship. My wife bought some spices and Caribbean coffee as gifts for friends.

I am using free wifi next to Glammo gift shop. There are short brick walls around gardens next to the shop for sitting. This free wifi is far superior to that of the ship.

Last night's dinner in the MDR was very good and as we experienced this week the service is superb. The beverage waiter had two glasses of wine on our table as soon as we sat down.

I had the crab cake as appetizer. Oh my this was excellent. Meaty with crab and served on a light fresh salsa. This was so large compared to crab cake appetizers in Chops on other ships.

I had the loin of cod as my entree with fresh crisp/tender vegetables and jasmine rice. MDR has always done fish very well. My wife had the linguine pomodoro, she loves the fresh made pasta and the light tomato sauce.

After dinner we went to the R Bar and that is where we encountered Mercedes and Margot walking past on the promenade. I now see from my post on another thread last night that I am not the first person that was "brushed off" by her. In addition she just doesn't appear to like her job in public or on stage. I see no passion for her work in her eyes or actions.

I am the OP. As I posted on another thread earlier, after the C&A welcome back party in Studio B this week, in the reception line after catain's speech. Mercedes was on her personal cell phone. It was not a ship radio/walkie.

So instead of greeting loyal C&A passengers, she was on her cellphone. That is why I talked to her when she was walking down the promenade last night.

But look at the YEARS long threads asking almost daily about CDs and ADs. It is interesting to thousands on this board. And for the benefit of their employer, RCI, many passengers book cruises based on who the CD/AD will be on their cruise.

These staff members are public figures to hundreds of thousands of paying passengers over their careers. If they don't want simple questions then they should not be in the public arena.

Basically the drink cards are equivalent to the Premium package. Wines up to $12. Most cocktails , but not "Super Premium" liquor what ever that means. US beers are $6, imported are $5.50. Drink of the day has been $10 each day.

A regular drink, rum and coke, vodka and tonic are $8.26 including gratuity. Most other cocktails with three or more ingredients are $10.

However, at the R Bar those similarly 3+ ingredient drinks are $12. Not sure those are included.

Look at my post, ONE Cruise Directors opinion of Cruise Critic posted at 6:13 this evening about Adventure....

One Adventure now. At precisely 7:35 this evening, some 25 minutes ago, while my wife and I are sitting in the R Bar, Mercedes and Margot pass by. I got up and asked to confirm for Cruise Critic that what they told me last night and this morning was true about assignments.

Mercedes stated, "I can't believe you contribute to Cruise Critic, it is rubbish and lies". She went on to contradict what was mentioned this morning. She told me that she is definitely "staying on board until at least April. These things are fluid and change by the minute." She would not confirm what others have reported here about who will replace her. Once again she asked, "where do you hear these rumors?" Margot did confirm the handover on Saturday and she is going to Oasis, albeit sheepishly, like it was no one's business.

As I stated in a review of the current cruise we are on, our concierge, Ryno Strapp does not read Cruise Critic because "the rumors are too upsetting".

I bought some rum, "product of Antigua", but with my luck I'll find it was bottled in Florida...

My wife bought a leather handbag and some other small items.

The day turned out to be rainy so no pool time today. There is no live performance in the large theater this evening. They are playing the movie "Everest" in the Lyric Theater at 8:30 tonight even though it has been shown on the big screen on the pool deck and in the smaller screening room on deck 2 earlier this week. There is the ice show in studio B, but that seating is probably 1/5 or less of the main theater. Staff tells me that ice show attendance is down because people have seen very similar style shows on many other ships lately.

Due to the rain, an outdoor BBQ lunch was moved to the promenade.

Another quick word about Johnny Rocket's. In the Compass there is a notation next to the JR hours referring to the restaurant being reserved from 6:00 pm to 7:00 for youth dining. In reality anyone can dine there at any hour they are open. But the staff says during that youth hour you may encounter two tables of youngsters eating with their kids club leaders. It may be a bit lively and noisey. I think they should reword the notation. At first I thought ONLY youth could eat at that hour.

Very short pier walk to shops in Antigua. RCI "tips for travelers " on the back of the port shopping map handed out today with Compass for Antigua: "Beach attire is perfect to wear on the beach, but not in town, in the shops, or in the restaurants. And no camouflage clothing anywhere."

On Adventure right now. I may be wrong but does the total access tour have three elements? Bridge, galley and engines?

We are in a Grand Suite this week and our concierge invited all of us to a complimentary bridge tour. High security, small numbers at a time. Lasted about 30 minutes. It was very interesting, we has the first office as our guide and he answered all of our questions. Time for pictures also.

Then we asked about a galley tour. He arranged a complimentary galley on the last day, a sea day, this coming Friday. It never hurts to ask for a freebie now and then. We aren't interested in the engines.

duplicate

On Adventure now. Mercedes is still with us until Saturday, 3/12. Handover then.

On Adventure now. Margot told me last night that Renato (spelling?) will replace her on Saturday. She said this is his home ship. Confirmed her to Oasis in conversation this morning.

Today, day 4, we are in Antigua. Rain as we approached and the ship rocked side to side so that our closet and cupboard doors opened and slammed shut with each roll. Overcast now, high of 79.

Docked port side today. Short pier, easy walking. My wife looked over the balcony and said, " I see Diamonds International, we could be in any port in the world on a Royal cruise" LOL.

Dinner menu tonight is s Basil. Chef's recommended entree is orecchiette pasta.

You may have seen my response on the regular RCI board about drink cards. On sale today, day 4, 10 drinks for $85.00. You then need to add the 18%'gratuity on top of that.

Crown and Anchor welcome back party was held in Studio B last night. They cover the ice with plywood.

Free champagne, yellow bird cocktails, and also alcohol free drinks, as many as you wanted for all.

Funny thing: When they introduced the officers and staff walking into the venue the band on stage played The Love Boat theme. I think it went off the air in the late 1980s, so this fun thing was lost on younger passengers.

Captain told us that there are 8 million C&A members, the most of any cruise line in the world. He did not break it down by levels.

He also told us that by online comments entered after cruises the Adventure is #2 of all ships in RCI fleet in customer satisfaction. He didn't say which one was #1.

Also it was his feeling that Enchantment of the Seas will be the first ship into Cuba from RCI. I later talked to him one on one up in the WJ where the crew goes to get snacks before it closes at 9. He reconfirmed to me that he thinks it will indeed be Enchantment.

Yesterday's drink of the day was Caribbean Tea, as opposed to Long Island? $10. Today's is Melon Margarita, $10.

The Loyalty Ambassador desk is so well hidden that I could not find it and I consider myself a good map reader. It is in deck 4, an employee said she could not give directions, so she physically walked us over to it, hidden in a corner. There's was absolutley no signage whatsoever.

(I am writing in short segments for fear that I may write a lot and then wifi goes down and it never gets sent.)

We went to Johnny Rocket's last night. Introduced to this place a few ships ago. $6.95 per person with all the food you can eat and complimentary soft drinks included. Milk shakes/malts are not included, pay extra for those; however pies and ice cream sundaes are complimentary. The 18% gratuity is included in the $6.95 charge.

We ask the server to serve everything at the same time, unlike the usual order of shake first, then 10 minutes later the fries/rings and then another 10 minutes until you get your burgers. I understand that you get to drink and munch before burgers, but by the time they arrive the others are either too warm or too cold. Just us, I guess.

Answers: yes to pier shuttle as above. DL would also work in US VI, we just always have our passports on our person.

At C&A last night I asked Activity director Margot when she was leaving. This Saturday 3/12. Replaced by Reynot (spelling) which she said is his home ship. We got hustled along the line so I could'nt ask where she was going next.

When I got to Mercedes in the greeting line she was on her personal cell phone (not a ship radio/walkie) and not greeting guests. So I could not speak to her.

There was a D+ in CL first day, but she was also in a suite, so she had a gold colored card for entrance.

On Adventure now. Today is day 4, Tuesday. Tonight in the big theater is the movie "Everest".

This is even though it has already been on the large outdoor screen on the pool deck as well as the small screening room on deck 2.

The only talent this week that has ever been on Broadway or Las Vegas was last night's headliner, Lou Gazarra. He was a finalist on American Idol season two. He was fantastic last night!