May B

Paula Jean at future cruise desk seems to be pretty good at sorting out the options, Ibis. I think you should sit down with her and explain what you like and don’t like. Have fun!

We had another lovely CC get-together Wednesday night, and looking forward to the final on Saturday, same time and place as Wednesday. Tonight the 9:30 show was James Fox doing Billy Joel, and I love that show as much as the three Billy Joel concerts I’ve been fortunate to have attended. And he’ll be back Sunday night doing his own show. Should be great, also. Magician was fun! Bridge people attended, and Sandy who teaches iPhone photography. Sandy was our Crystal escort for a wonderful tour today in St Lucia to hike to see the Pitons up close. We heard about so much that grows on this island and saw so much of it, too. There’s a begonia plant whose flowers taste like a green apple (with similar crunch). Attended our third Bob Ray presentation, so much fun! Then met him and his wife in the Cove and heard about their 2024 schedule on Serenity and Symphony. Tomorrow we get to enjoy Roger McGuinn again and, except for a conflict, could attend two trivias. Btw, prize for trivia winners has been discounts, either at spa or photo shop. And tomorrow night the Supper Club!

Today I went to Marketplace for lunch, just after 1 pm. It was quite sparsely attended! I guess many guests were out and about in Barbados. Mr B walked to the historical museum and gave it rave reviews.

You find the QR code on the tablet they provide. You access on your smart phone. I didn’t think to access it on my iPad as well, but that would also have worked.

They have it! I couldn’t do it myself so I asked one of the very helpful people at reception.

To dinner! We were at Umi Uma and I was seated where I could see everybody as they entered. So much fun!

Have you all used the QR code on the iPad to get the onboard Crystal app? I learned an interesting functionality. Last night, I wanted to read yesterday’s Reflections, but it had already transitioned to today’s. Back at Itinerary on the home page of the app, click, then scroll down and click on the plus sign to the right of the port and you get an option to click for Weather or for Daily Reflections for that day and port.

Once onboard, you use a QR code on the iPad to get the onboard Crystal app. I learned an interesting functionality. Last night, I wanted to read yesterday’s Reflections, but it had already transitioned to today’s. Back at Itinerary on the home page of the app, click, then scroll down and click on the plus sign to the right of the port and you get an option to click for Weather or for Daily Reflections for that day and port.

Attention Cruise Critic and other folks, cruising right now with us on Serenity: Join us at 5:15 pm today for informal get-together across from the Cove on deck five, between the two future cruise/loyalty desks. Also planning to do Saturday, same time, same location.

I didn’t know that’s the name of it! They closed his second show with it, even though he hasn’t used it in the second show.

Today for the third day, there’s a six pm show and a different 9:30 pm show. Last night was Icons. Gorgeous costumes, fun songs, soooooo loud. It’s Rafael’s favorite show, which I guess explains why the singer of the duo also shrieks.

John Joseph left the ship this a.m. after two very entertaining shows. We do love him. I had forgotten the punchline about changing planes in Montreal. Actually, I had also forgotten the punch line about his wife and the purse! Not that it matters. His delivery is what makes it great. Interestingly, one of the lecturers looks a tad like John Joseph, so cruisers got them confused. That’s according to John. The retired judge and his wife were in the front row of John’s second show.

Now I REALLY wish my son could’ve been here, he’s really good at great rock history. He did forget, though, that Roger McGuinn was first Jim McGuinn. We look forward to hearing about that at Roger’s next presentation. He and his wife were in the front row at both of Bob Ray’s talks. Now he’s giving out a cute magnet shaped like a record disc, with the title something like Any Day at Sea Is Better than a Day at Home”.

The fact that they can’t dim the lights (yet) has been mentioned many times. It just hasn’t been solved yet! When we first sat down at Umi Uma, it was clearly evident, but after we were there a while, it didn’t bother us at all. We did wonder if they ever have trouble getting enough black cod. Wonderful dinner.

We never fail to go fahblungit at Port of Miami, and embarkation day was no different than every other time.

I didn’t see info. We were at E. Embarkation was cinch’s, but it started exactly at 12 noon. Many of us arrived soon after 11, so we had a wait. Met a very nice couple to pass the time.

So when he gets Cousin Brucie on the phone, that isn’t live? We wondered! Yesterday Denise “surprised” him by getting Dean of Jan and Dean on. First show was Beatles, yesterday was Beach Boys.

Ahh, we should’ve discussed this when I saw you at lunch yesterday! For the card room, that’s a quiet time. It’s not as comfortable, plus we’d have to bring our own drink. I’ll read more comments. I think I haven’t caught up here. I’m not sure if it has something to do with new requirement to sign in by email rather than nickname.

I’m onboard now and the white party was last night. Amazing how many dressed in white, with the ridiculous to the sublime. Perhaps 80%, maybe more. Most attractive outfit was not white at all. The party was in the Crystal Cove and was at the regular show time. There was no other show.

Sasset, very glad you had a great cruise. Thx for letting us know that your issues were addressed, and I like that you gave a shout-out to your cabin steward.

Have a great cruise! Enjoy the extra hours.

On Saturday, we had a nice Cruise Critic get-together. I believe ten of us attended. We’ll try to do it again, perhaps on Wednesday and Saturday? Let’s say 6 pm if there’s no show, or 5:15 if there is? Shall we do Palm Court again? It’s a nice location, if the singer of the duo isn’t shrieking too loudly. Her rendition of New York, New York was not pleasant.

I guess now we know I haven’t mastered posting two photos at once. Tomorrow we have the tender port of Marigot. For anyone who’s sad to be missing St Barts, there’s a ferry between the two. I don’t know the schedule.

That was supposed to say lovely. Tried to edit, but the energy level in the Cove made my connection to wifi kind of iffy, lol.