ggo85

Today is our eighth sea day and second to last cruise day. 🙁 Weather is pleasant but cool — too cool for the veranda although you could sit in a sheltered locale and be ok. Got me thinking about advice for those who’ve never done a TA and are considering one. The below are my views — YMMV. 1. You must LOVE sea days. Look forward to them. The kind of person who often stays onboard when the ship is in port. 10/12 days is a lot of time at sea and many TAs are longer. We’ve absolutely loved every minute, but I’ve heard a few passengers saying it was too much and, but for the really nice days at the outset, would not have enjoyed it. If, for you, sea days are just a break between fascinating ports, you’re probably not going to like a lengthy TA. 2. You must be able and willing to entertain yourself. This means reading, doing puzzles, watching movies, doing needlepoint or knitting, binge-watching that (downloaded) series you’ve never had time for, etc. You need to make at least some of your own fun. 3. The above is especially true on SS. The reason it’s a long trip and, as most know, there is no indoor pool, no putt-putt golf, no big screen, no glass-making, etc. that are found on larger ships. As I’ve mentioned previously, there are many hours during the day when there are zero scheduled activities. So, you need to find ways to keep yourself occupied. I’m happy just watching the waves, but some would be bored out of their minds. 4. You can’t count on good weather to help you out. We were blessed with 5 days of gorgeous weather and no rain on sea days. It could just have easily been crappy weather the entire time. 5. Ports are chosen mostly because they’re en route, not necessarily because they’re interesting. If you like unique and interesting ports, a TA probably won’t give you that. Of course, you can do a B2B or spend time in your destination/arrival area. But the TA ports are mostly a break from the monotony and a chance to resupply. The above is not in any way meant to disparage a TA. We loved it so much that we just booked another for next year! (not on SS as the itineraries/schedule for 2024 didn’t work for us). We love simply taking a break from the mundane of home and work and love being at sea. But a TA isn’t for everyone. Definitely consider YOUR preferences before taking the plunge.

Today in Ponte Delgado. Morning weather was rainy and cool. I did the Fire Lake excursion. Not the best excursion, but no one’s fault. We first stopped in Ribiera Grande, a town square with buildings from (I think) the 18th C. Easy walk around but not great for those with scooters. Then onto the lake. However, one of the two buses broke down on the way there. So, our bus took on all of the stranded passengers. Every seat was full and the hosts and one guide had to stand. Took about 20 minutes to make the change. By the time we got to the cauldron, the lake was obscured by clouds. I got one pic sort of but it was a lost cause due to weather. I’m sure it’s beautiful when the weather cooperates but nothing to see when it doesn’t. We then traveled to a pineapple plantation. Indoor pineapples. Actually pretty interesting and included a taste of pineapple liqueur and actual pineapple. Both were quite good. The best news is that another bus had arrived, so the stranded folks could go back to their own bus and both groups could spread out. There was a gift store at the pineapple place and my first thought was: Oh no, tourist trap. But it was very high quality stuff and prices were decent. I actually wish we’d had a bit more time there. Back at the port, not much is open Saturday after 1 pm (and the delay due to the bus issue meant it was 1:00 when we got back). After lunch, I walked around town for a bit - easy walking distance from the ship. Interesting architecture, but the town was dead due to day / time of day. Will try to post some pix later. Two more sea days and we’re done.

They were broadcasting some games on “ESPN Caribbean.” Men only. First Sat/Sun only. We know because we watched a bit of it and it was definitely ESPN on SS. Assume some arrangement among the networks to broadcast ex-US. No ABC, CBS, etc at all. For news, FOX and MSNBC on the US side. Lots of UK channels. For chicken in Atlantide, be aware most dishes have been Indian. For example, last night was peri-peri chicken. I’ve not seen basic roast chicken or chicken cordon bleu, etc., at least in Atlantide. I would think that, if you requested a basic chicken dish a night in advance, you might be able to get it, since they obviously have chicken.

We’re on Moon now. Did Dawn last year. You see the full range. MOST women wear cocktail attire on formal night. For most, that’s either a cocktail dress or dress pants with a very dressy (think sparkly) top. Some wear long. Some wear pants and a nice top (maybe silk) but definitely not dressy. My first cruise I wore lightweight black wool pants with sparkly tops. This cruise I brought 2 cocktail dresses just b/c I had them and wanted to wear them. It was all ok. For informal, it’s all over the place in terms of what women wear. Some wear cocktail but slightly less dressy than formal. Most wear either a dress or slacks/skirt and a top that you’d wear to a nice afternoon party - like a baby shower or rehearsal dinner. Some wear slacks and a blouse— not very dressy. One night I wore black slacks with a cashmere sweater and was perfectly fine. If want to pack less, bring 2 pairs of slacks. Bring one top for every 2 nights that are formal or informal (no one cares or notices if you wear the same thing twice). Casual night runs the gamut from cocktail (yep, some still dress up) to super casual pants and almost anything goes for a top. One guy showed up in jeans and no one said anything, but he was alone and they’re supposedly not permitted (other than very last night when there is super flexibility). Bottom line: women have a lot of latitude. Common sense prevails. Also, there are always casual and informal venues. For men, minimum for formal night is jacket and tie. Informal is jacket. My DH wore dark khakis with a jacket and tie on formal night an no one said a thing. Some men wear tuxes. SS is definitely more formal than most lines, but I see a more casual approach slowly creeping in. JMO.

Additional topic for today: the internet! We have premium service included. We’re allowed 2 devices connected at a time per person. Additional devices cost extra. Service has been decent. Obviously, it’s nothing like home or even a decent hotel. That said, I’m generally able to access most sites without huge delay. Certain sites apparently require too much .. . whatever . . . and won’t load at all. There are glitches with others. But never a time when I couldn’t get on and have even been able to send pictures. So . . . Overall, it’s been Ok. I brought a MiFi. I knew it wouldn’t work at sea (at least mine doesn’t), but it did work today in port and was faster than ship service and able to access all sites. So an option. An unrelated note for sports fans out there . . . we lost ESPN around Day 4. So no March Madness for us. Only UK sports channels with lots of soccer and tennis. And all the UK news channels carried the Gwenneth Paltrow trial live! (No, I didn’t watch it).

Today we did the Caldeira and volcano tour in Horta on the island of Faial. It’s mostly a bus tour that covers most of the island, with several short stops. We started with a picture stop. (First pic). Then went to the Caldeira, which is aptly named as it looks like a cauldron. (Second pic). Then a bathroom break at a non-descript coffee shop. (No pic). Finally onto land created by an underground eruption in 1957 (third pic). Overall, a decent tour with an informative guide. Total time off bus was about 75 minutes. I realize they want to offer a restroom break, but it felt like an unneeded 30+ minute stop with nothing to see or do, especially for those of us who didn’t need the break. Not much walking but several times on and off the bus. It’s ok for mobility challenged but IMO isn’t the best tour for someone in a wheelchair. Doable, but might not be fully enjoyable. The “town” was easy walking distance but not a lot to see and do as this is a small island. (Population 15,000). And the weather was quite cool and overcast, so we opted to return to the ship. The guide said that sperm whales can be seen year-round and blue whales this time of year. We didn’t do that tour here. It is in zodiacs and I believe sold out quickly.

The Atlantide menu changes every 2-3 days. It’s 4 pages long, not including the daily specials. I usually don’t take my phone / camera to dinner. Main courses are generally similar and include: strip steak, filet, several types of fish (e.g., sea bass, salmon, trout, turbot, cod), prawns or lobster, maybe lam or veal chop. There are also at least 2 vegetarian options both for starters and main course. Sides don’t change and include parsley potatoes, Vichy carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, steak fries, mashed potatoes, wilted greens and maybe a couple others. Within reason / limits, you can order things not on the menu. For example, Caesar salad or baked potato. The daily specials vary greatly. Last night was sea bass and an Indian chicken. One night it was Wienerschnitzel. We haven’t tried SALT, so defer to others on that.

Another topic for today . . . the spa. First, I recognize that the only thing more subjective than food is spa. People have very different goals and expectations. I know that someone doing the same treatments with the same person on the same cruise could have entirely different perspectives. But I can only comment on my experience, so here it goes. While SS doesn't permit a hard sell on products, there are attempts to separate you from more of your money. When you sign in, they offer you various additional services (all $19 each) either with a piece of paper or verbally. I just said no thanks. There is a soft sell on products, but nothing a polite, "no thanks" or "I'll give it some thought," won't end. I booked a deep tissue massage on line. I like / need deep tissue that leaves me sore the next day. Short term pain for long-term gain. It's the only type of massage that works for me. What I got was . . . awful. It was at best a Swedish massage with a tiny bit of pressure on occasion. Very light strokes, nothing "deep" about it. Waste of time and money. I did bring it to the attention of the spa manager. (I've never, ever complained about a massage before this, so it wasn't just mediocre, it was bad). To her credit, she rescheduled me for another deep tissue the next day. It was the best or second best of all deep-tissue massages I've ever had. Absolutely fantastic. It was 20 minutes longer than the first one and there was no charge. I felt SO much better after and even the next day. This masseuse is not for the faint of heart, but for a true deep tissue, there is no end to superlatives. I also had a facial. It was good. Nothing special but no complaints and my skin certainly looked better and was more hydrated. I do think their facials are pricey as compared to high-end land spas. They were offering a 10-20-30 promotion. It's kind of annoying b/c you don't get it if you book on-line. That said, on-line booking gives you a better chance of getting your preferred day/time and that's important to me. (Perhaps I could have cancelled and rebooked, but not worth the effort). Just keep it in mind if you're flexible on timing. All in all, a positive experience. A TA gives you plenty of opportunity to "spa" and I took full advantage!

Can’t say we hear much noise, if any. No deck chairs or trolley carts rolling. Nothing that keeps us awake. There’s definitely some squeaking and groaning from the ships motion, but you get that anywhere. I’d be fine booking our cabin again. Coke zero is definitely different than Diet Coke. Supposedly, they weren’t able to onload any in FLL. Last time I checked, there was lots of Diet Coke in Florida, but whatever. Won’t spoil my cruise. I just find it weird that SS has such a tough time getting sufficient quantities of Diet Coke when passengers obviously are asking for it. I glad at least some folks are enjoying my posts. Sorry so few pics. I don’t like taking pix of my food and, with 7 straight days at sea, not too much else to photograph that isn’t already in a brochure. I am attaching photo of orchids in our cabin. Wish mine at home looked like this! If there’s any topic someone want to hear about, let me know and I’ll do my best.

We did this last year. Very enjoyable. Do read up on the weather ahead of time and believe it! Most of the passengers, including us, assumed that it would be warm in mid-July and assumed forecasts had to be wrong. They were right and we were wrong. Temps in the 50s and cloudy. At the first port, we were all buying sweatshirts. 🙂 The week before, it had been in the 80s - go figure. Many of Norway’s cities are landlocked. Thus, seeing by ship is optimal. We did a cruise on Hurtigruten 20 years ago (when it was Norwegian Coastal voyages) and still feel it’s the best way to experience the Norwegian fjords. But it’s a very different experience than SS. If you’re doing a traditional cruise, SS is great. Of course you’ll see the fjords from the ship. Land tours from the ship will allow you to experience even more sights. Be flexible - one day the weather was so bad that we couldn’t dock. Had an extra day at sea. Rare, but it can happen.

Today will talk about enrichment lectures. There are 3 speakers. One is doing politics (e.g., U.S. - Russian relations), one is doing history (today, Christopher Columbus) and the third topic is ships. There are typically 2 lectures per day which last about an hour. They’re typically in the morning. For various reasons, I’ve only attended the ship lectures. I’m very familiar with the topic but still found them interesting. They’ve been well-attended given some people are still at breakfast and there are competing activities - probably 50+ people at each lecture I’ve attended. I’m not sure if the lectures are recorded as they were on Crystal; will check on that today unless someone who knows beats me to it. i also did an origami class yesterday. Sparsely attended but fun. One of the fellow attendees raved about the art classes. I might attend today. I was in a lounge (working) when a dance class started up. There were at least 20 participants and I later heard a fellow passenger say it was terrific. The afternoon activities-especially early afternoon- are uniformly sparse. Really nothing from noon until bingo around 4. Maybe folks are napping? Or eating? Weather is still good. Too cool for sunning but it’s not raining, so all good. They’ve apparently run out of Diet Coke but do have Coke Zero. This happened on our last SS cruise, also about halfway through.

First, I’m well aware of the effect of the time change on the crew. It sucks, but I can’t change that. I’d read posts from passengers on past TAs who’d mentioned the time change was “disorienting.” I travel hundreds of thousands of miles each year internationally — by air. This was my first time doing it incrementally by sea. I was explaining for others, like us, who’ve never done an eastern TA. I was not complaining. Sorry if some people took it differently. Apologies for the time issues re DST in Europe. I’d (erroneously) assumed Europe moved to DST in early April. I was wrong. I mentioned the two issues in LA Dame because they occurred. They did not ruin our experience, but I was giving a full perspective. Others likely have different experiences depending on when they dine, their servers and what they order. We had Dover sole in Atlantide tonight. I could not tell any difference in quality between that and La Dame. The vegetable presentation in La Dame was much more beautiful, but the fish itself was the same portion and cooked identically. This is why we personally would not pay extra again for La Dame. But that’s OUR choice. Others may find certain menu items irresistible, love the presentation, enjoy the more personalized service, want a more intimate atmosphere, etc. You folks are a tough crowd!

Thought I’d share some perspectives on packing. As background we have 2 port days and the rest at sea. This relates to our TA cruise only, not days before or after or for those doing BTB. A lot depends on whether you’re a minimalist (take only what’s absolutely necessary) or someone who wants to have lots of options and different outfits for every event, every day. I’m somewhere between the two, leaning toward minimalist. What you take also depends on whether you have free laundry or your willingness to do it yourself. We have 2 formal nights. I took 2 cocktail dresses and one pair of low-heeled dressy shoes. You could wear the same thing both nights - no one would notice or care but you. You can also eat in a more casual venue or in your cabin if you want to forego formal. For during the day, I took 2 bathing suits, one coverup and one pair of flip flops. 2 pairs of shorts and 4 T-shirts. 2 pairs of LL Bean perfect pants - sort of like sweats but dressier. Perfect for ship on sea days if too cool for shorts and great for in port/ on the plane. Two cotton zip-up jackets. One pair casual shoes. Two pair “sneakers,” as I walk and like to change shoes every day. For dinner, one pair casual slacks and two casual tops (wore onto ship). One pair black dress slacks (lightweight wool) and 4 dressy tops for informal. 2 other dresses - what I’d wear to work or out to lunch. They’re lightweight, pack easily and don’t wrinkle — I dress them up with jewelry. One pair black shoes and another pair of shoes that works with both dresses. I thought we had more informal nights than we do. I thought it would be cooler than it’s been so brought a long-sleeved cotton shirt and a windbreaker. Might need them in port. It all easily fit into a 27” suitcase. I’m pretty pleased with my choices. In retrospect, would have brought 1-2 fewer informal outfits (ditched a dress and/or top) since our two port nights are casual. Might have left one cotton jacket at home. And maybe added a swimsuit. BUT, it’s been much warmer than expected. Beach weather until today (day 6 at sea). Had we had the low 60s and clouds that were forecast, choices would have been perfect. Everyone says layers, but it’s really important at sea where weather can be unexpectedly good or bad and can change quickly. Must admit that I’m very casual during the day. Some dress up for every function. Likewise, I’m on the more casual side of informal but still much dressier than casual, whereas some wear true cocktail every night. I’ve found either is fine - people do what suits them. I’m also ok wearing the same thing on 2 evenings (but not 3x). Bottom line: even with SS’s “dress code,” you don’t need to overpack. That said, if this is your moment to wear all the stuff that normally just sits in your closet, go for it!

Haven’t heard anything about tournaments on this cruise and we’re on sea day #6. They could be happening but not advertised. It’s a very small casino. 2 tables, maybe 3, and 10 slots. On Moon.

Azores are one hour behind Lisbon — for now. I assume they also go to DST in a couple of weeks.

Thought today I’d discuss time changes on an eastern transit. Luckily for us, we’re on DST and Europe isn’t for another couple of weeks. And Lisbon is same time zone as London. So we “only” lose 4 hours total. To date, we’ve lost 3 hours in the last 4 nights and 2 hours over last 2 nights. Still 2 days until the Azores. I’m not entirely sure why they didn’t spread the last 2 changes over another night but have to think they want to keep ship’s time in line with sunrise and sunset. For us, the key is waking up at or close to our “usual” time (ignoring / absorbing) the change. It’s hard some mornings, especially with late evening entertainment. (As an aside, that might explain the relatively low attendance at last night’s show). We also try to stay busy during the day, rather than sleep. It’s a bit disorienting but nothing like losing 6 hours at a time. Overall, it hasn’t been that bad. And we have another 6 days with only one more hour of change. I think it could be tougher if there were 6 hours of change and I’d probably want a few more days of cruise to absorb the changes. Still, it’s not as if we have to get up and go to work every day. 😀 Weather today has finally turned a bit. Cloudier and windier. However, seas relatively calm and temps in low 70s, so still very nice. And more opportunity to attend events on board!

The weather has fantastic, which means I’ve been in the sun, which means not much to report on daily activities. I will comment on 2 things today — dinner at La Dame and the Broadway- themed show time. We’d debated doing La Dame - was it worth the extra cost? So we tried it. First, the view is lovely - if there’s a view. The sun sets aft on this cruise, so the screens were down. Also, we were at the edge of the time zone, so by 7:30, it was mostly dark out. Thus, the view didn’t work for us but would be nice during height of summer. As an aside, thought the chairs were somewhat uncomfortable. I personally don’t like backward leaning chairs when I’m eating. I was also surprised that the Degustation menu had all sorts of extra charges (for the wines, I think) for $10-$20 a course for 6-7 courses. Seriously? And they were pushing the premium wines to everyone. Again, seemed odd for a place where you’re already paying extra. Those that want premium wines certainly know how to ask for them, and the Degustation menu should have an option for included wines. Just my opinion. The service was excellent. One waiter for 4-6 people. Food and drink came and went flawlessly. The only nit was that I requested a side of white asparagus (offered for other dishes) and didn’t get it. And my husband’s deboned fish was left with some bones. Food was also first-rate with lovely presentation. We had lobster salad, mushroom soup and Dover sole. All very tasty and portions were enough to leave us filled but not stuffed. We had a chocolate something for dessert. Too much chocolate for me, but I’m not a big dessert person. Overall impression: If you want a special, romantic, impeccably served dinner, this is it. However, while I’m glad we did it, I don’t think we’d do it again. In my personal, subjective view, the food and service aren’t THAT much better than Atlantide or LaTerrazza to justify the additional $60pp. We’re it $30pp, I’d go for it. Onto the show. I’m a tough critic of Broadway-themed musicals and I thought this was one of the best. The main reason is that I recognized 80% of the songs and, for the others, I’d at least heard of the musicals from which they came (aka, I need to get out more to see them). (Some cruise lines either pick musicals no one’s ever heard of or pick songs no one remembers from popular musicals — none of that here). The singers got to shine and, for the most part, they have strong voices with decent range. Overall, extremely enjoyable and I’m glad I stayed up on a night we lost an hour. Two other random thoughts. First, I wish they’d start the shows earlier, especially on a cruise where we’re losing time every other night. I’ve heard several passengers lament that the show just starts too late for them. Last night it ended around 1040 pm, which was nearly midnight in “real time” given that clocks were moving forward. Second, I wish they offered music between 7 pm and 9:30 pm. The only option is Silver Note and you can’t get a table. Moreover, it hold about 10 tables and 5-6 uncomfortable bar stools. So 25 people get to enjoy music in the evening and the rest of us . . . don’t. The above are minor nits - first world problems. Overall, we’re really enjoying the cruise. Beautiful ship, nice weather, terrific crew. Helped by great weather. The CD had a good one-liner last night: “If you don’t travel first class, your children will.”

We are on Moon in 932. After 4 nights and 5 days can report no noise. Not in the morning. Not at night. YMMV.

I haven’t found any food that isn’t good. Certainly nothing to avoid. If something isn’t to your liking, you can always ask for something else. I didn’t think the dinner at Kaseki was either authentic Japanese or worth the up charge. But others love it. A man at an event last night said LaTerrazza was “awful.” We ate there last night and thought it was very good — food and service. Plan to return. I agree the pizza is good. Breakfast has been hit or miss. Not in love with their eggs Benedict and soft-boiled eggs were slightly overcooked. But omelet and scrambled eggs have been above average. Most of it is personal preference.

Day 3 at sea. Gorgeous weather. Attended a lecture in the morning. I was familiar with subject matter so nothing new for me. Ate in La Terrazza for dinner. Not crowded. Service was good as was the food. Small portions, which we appreciated after several days of too much food. Obviously, you can order as many courses as you want. If you’re hungry, order several. As someone once posted, you settle into a routine based around meals. We enjoy not having anything particular to do. Internet isn’t good, even for premium. Definitely download AND OPEN any Kindle books you want to read because you can’t do it onboard. Certain websites also aren’t accessible. They need to do better as a premium cruise line in 2023. Finally made it to the Observation lounge. There are crosswords and a nice view during daylight. I suspect it’s underutilized.

Some may wonder about activities on a TA sea day. Rather than trying to scan Chronicles, I’ll hit the highlights for today. There are a number of fitness activities- yoga, Pilates, abs. Shuffleboard, table tennis, and golf putting tournaments Medispa stuff - foot analysis, skin transformation, acupuncture— that sort of thing. About 5-6 of those. Wine tasting (would have gone but it conflicted with spa appt). Future voyages talk. 2 SALT demos. Enrichment lecture on back stage musicals (also conflicted with spa). Bingo. Team trivia. Bridge lessons for beginners and intermediate. Dance class. It was a lovely day, so I opted for sun and swimming in pool. Water is great temp. Walked on the deck. Figure the weather will get worse so taking advantage of the good weather days while we have them. Lunch at grill yesterday and pizza today. Hamburger was great but too much food for me. Agree with poster on another thread that lunch pizza size is perfect. I had white pizza with mushrooms and it was wonderful. Service is very good. Pool bar service is excellent. We don’t need much, but the server remembered I like ice water and brought it w/o my having to ask. On Day 2. Impressive.

Formal night. While some wore tuxes, most men wore coat and tie. I think if you wear a tie and no jeans, you’re ok. Women wore everything from long to a somewhat dressy top with slacks. IMO, some not all that dressier than casual. At the show, I saw several men without jackets and no one sent them packing. I think the idea of “formal” is as formal —or not — as you want it to be, within certain limits. Dinner included lobster tail. Not huge but tasty. They do a great job of getting dinner out promptly even when crowded. Show (Mind the Gap - British music) was very good. IMO, one of the featured singers was a bit weak but, overall, a very enjoyable performance. Definitely worth staying up for! Another shout out to our butler. For us, a great butler anticipates your needs. Ours does that. Very impressed and a world of difference from our prior (and only other) SS cruise / butler.

We were concerned about shore excursions and never had an issue. Oddly IMO given the passenger demographics, the first to sell our are usually the “adventure” type, such as 4x4 off road, etc. On our current cruise, on boarding everything was still available other than the “adventure” tours. The one thing is that, if a tour is offered morning and afternoon, the morning will likely sell out first. Based on only 2 cruises to date plus another where we e selected excursions (limited sample), I don’t find them as intriguing as those on Crystal. But Crystal’ s cost extra and cost dearly in some cases. Nonetheless, the SS tours were certainly acceptable in terms of quality. We’ve seen no evidence of a class system. Everything is open to everyone and everyone has equal chance to booking everything.

Day 1 at sea. The first thing I noticed is that there is much more opportunity to explore the ship. It’s hard to explain but sea days when there are lots of ports seem “rushed.” You’re tired from port days and just want to unwind. Thus, I at least, don’t do many activities. Today, I got the daily crossword. Going to walk for an hour on the deck. Sat on my deck. It’s relaxing knowing that, if I don’t go somewhere or do something today, I have tomorrow and the next day and the next . . . Today you could guess the miles we’d traveled since FLL. I guessed 265 and actual was 268, so I felt pretty good about that! Weather has been great. Today was definitely a pool day, though the pool itself was a bit rough. Singles — do have events for singles - there was one last night — and gentlemen hosts on this cruise. The hosts are also available for dinner reservations. Tonight is formal night and production number is British music.

Dinner tonight in Atlantide. We really like it. Always find many great options. We’re also not food snobs. Everything was great other than they didn’t have the hazelnut ice cream on the menu. It’s a personal favorite but I found something else that I enjoyed. Ship is 100% full - Every table was full at Atlantide. They still served food promptly. No hot water in shower. It was a cold shower! Butler indicates it’s been fixed. Feeling a few swells. Nothing serious. Someone posted about noise in cabins directly below pool deck. We’re there so will let folks know. Butler continues to impress. I am a sparking water drinker and he noticed and brought extra bottles without my asking. Huge change from prior cruise and on a par with Crystal butler (whom I considered uniformly superb).