Sailfish

The pizza, when fresh is very good. However, it's always made in advance, stored in a heater until the one on the counter is gone. It was never fresh, except during the 12pm lunchtime rush, and never out of the oven fresh.

I thought this was strange, as I could always get fresh pizza on the Divina.

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I was told by a chap in a white uniform with bars and braid that the food is the same in the Deck 16 buffet, and the Deck 8 buffet was closed for dinner because they (the ship's management) wanted to see how Deck 16 would work out with more people in it. I also heard that the Deck 8 evening buffet was in use more than the management expected.

 

In my opinion, the general food quality on the Seaside compared to other lines I have sailed is lower and boring. And Deck 16 buffet's quality and variety are not equal to Deck 8.

 

Overcooked vegetables, the same7 item salad bar every night, overcooked proteins - these are not shake-down cruise issues.

 

Side note: the room stewards, bar staff, and junior kitchen and wait staff are fabulous and are working their tails off.

All the workers are awesome. It's management and leadership that's the problem.

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Susan, have not seen a card or game room on the deckplans, but Pat and I will find a place with comfy chairs and a table where we can play. Since this is a ship cruise, not a port cruise, we will be spending most of the time onboard, we carry several decks of cards, plus rules and scoresheets.

 

Stan

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Technology certainly can create challenges. Royal Caribbean rolled out a entire new series of technology upgrades with QUANTUM OF THE SEAS. New app, new check-in, new high speed internet, new "wow bands", waiters using tablets for everything, etc. etc. I was on the inaugural crossing. Nothing worked and it was a bit of a disaster. I felt bad for the poor waiters and those tablets. The pool area by the kids "wave pool" was always flooded as well. Not sure that was ever corrected or worked like it should. It was challenging but eventually most of it did work out, many cruises later. Royal did abandon the new dining concept about a year later. Like SEASIDE, the QUANTUM was a prototype and first in class, so the added challenge of none of the crew being familiar with the ship and everything being tested for the first time.

 

Two great things came out of it. We all got free drinks the first day as none of the POS systems were working, and at the end of the cruise they announced that no one would be charged for the internet as that never worked as it should either.

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We are finally on the last two sea days if our voyage. Last night, Ricky Martin got on board. Saw his big Entourage. But I don't believe he is performing. He will be part of the ceremony in Miami.

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Can you answer a few questions please?

 

Is there a "Card" or "Games" room onboard? Do you know if they have a supply of games available for the passengers to play? Mah Jonng, playing cards, board games, etc?

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The bands open your cabin door, but to turn on the lights in your cabin you will need your card. Fine during the day. But a hassle at night.

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It was also my understanding that you didn't need to use your purchased wifi to use the app. It's been so frustrating. Perhaps the guy from Italy who I spoke to us wrong. You never know. The technology is in place, but we've had so many issues. Even today, waiters are still charging for drink package drinks. They are inputting the correct codes, but the system is buggy. Every order is via tablet. Most waiters are young and very tech savvy. It's not them...it's the way the software was set up. A team of IT guys are working on it. There are some assigned to the dining room at meal time. So with them there, we see fewer charges.

It's worse in the bars! But this issue is very fixable. The plumbing and deck drainage issues are going to be more challenging. Good luck to the next group of passengers in Miami!

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I was told by an IT person working on the Seaside, to access your shipboard account and obtain other info specific to you, like your pre purchased tour schedule, etc you MUST have WiFi package. Without it, you can see your itinerary, ship activities, general info. But nothing specific to your reservation. This will not change.

It is pretty much the same info on the interactive screens on the ship. I also have a wrist band. They will open your door, but you need your card to turn on the light in your cabin. You can use it to make reservations at the interactive screens, but right now, the bands don't work to purchase drinks or in the shops. That will change. I didn't pay for ours. But many people did. Total waste.

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I am glad we went through immigration today as opposed to Miami on debarkation day! Immigration for US Citizens took seconds! We simply walked past officials with passports open!

Shore Excursions scheduled this morning were not organized well. It's up to MSC to inform passengers where to go. They told our group to wait for an escort that never showed up.

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Immigration went smoothly. The problem was lack of information from shore excursion staff to passengers where to assemble afterwards.

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The entertainment on the Atlantic crossing probably won't reflect what the entertainment will be like on 7 night sailings aboard the Seaside. I am on the ship, and I am so bored that Miami can't come soon enough. No broadcast TV, all Opera and since boarding in Barcelona, only two non-opera productions. The big screen out by the pool is non-operational. Most daytime activities are revenue generating. Pay per view movies cost $8. Though they are cycling some free movies every day.

There have been several themed parties, which were excellent. And entertainment staff appear to be pleasant and hard working.

The lounge acts are good. The guitar player in the Sports Bar is excellent.

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We are in Puerto Rico today; lots of US Coast Guard presence on the ship. Full crew evacuation drill the likes I have never seen. We went through US Immigration this morning. As we had a tour, we got it out of the way early. But it was quite crazy and unorganized when it came to figuring out where to locate your tour group.

Many passengers are grumpy and have no patience. I have been trying hard to remain positive, but I hate to admit it, I am looking forward to getting off the ship in Miami. So many angry passengers constantly complaining.

We enjoyed our tour and are now back on the ship relaxing.

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Compared to most Atlantic crossings, the internet hasn't been bad as most. Not fast, but okay. If you pay for the more expensive package your speed might be faster. I just have the SURFER package, so I have no complaints.

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I am on the Seaside right now. Hoping the shows presently will not reflect what they will schedule for 7 night voyages. All Opera! Stopped going to the shows a few days ago. All Opera! Same singers every night.

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Is it any surprise different MSC sites say different things? Of course not. This is MSC after all. It’s unfortunately a product of not being centralized and too many hands in the pot so to speak. Each region caring for their own website.

 

Based upon the very recent experiences of my friends onboard Seaside right now, it’s still “for two” just as the US site states. That is what I’m going with.

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It's very interesting. Perhaps we are hearing mostly from the Americans. But the most vocal on the ship are the European passengers.

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Sid, you have been great on these boards with pics and info. Much appreciated! But don't you think there is a reason these inaugural cruises are so heavily discounted? It is because they are NOT the real cruise, especially for a brand new ship that will still need to staff up in Miami. For me, seeing the issues/problems associated with a shakedown cruise would be the most interesting part. I would feel differently if a crew member said that on a routine seven day Caribbean cruise, but this makes sense to me. I would think some of them can't understand why passengers are so surprised. I any case, hope you are having fun! Thanks.

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I think that is the top section of the menu which has a set list of items - check out the thread that had the menus listed as it showed the packages for each restaurant.

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Not working yet. Tons of IT issues on the Transatlantic. By the time you cruise, things will be fine. The app only works when you buy wifi. I have it, but it's useless. I have the wrist band. Totally worthless. But nothing works yet.

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I am on the Transatlantic, and they have not rolled out the 7 night menus. Our menus have been different every night. The portions are larger than in Divina. Quality not as good in main dining room on this cruise. But the normal 7 night voyage will be different.

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The steamroom and sauna are co-ed. Only changing areas are segregated.

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We have the mealtime package. Draft beer, house wine, soda pop and bottled water are included. No hard liquor or beer in bottles. The entertainment package I heard was expensive, but don't know the exact cost. Someone in the dining room mentioned$80 for this transatlantic sailing. But so much misinformation going around about every thing. Lots of complaining, so some info is for sure false or speculation.

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Had my hair cut and highlighted in the salon the other day. The gal doing my hair did an awesome job. Spent an hour in the Thermal Spa area yesterday. The thermal bath was cold! Employees remarked that 84 degree temps is normal. I don't think so! All the other stuff is nothing. It's a great place to relax, but the steamrooms are like every steamroom I have ever been to. Kind of a let down. The cold room was cool, not freezing. Employees are nice. Tiny dressing room, very cramped. Dirty towels every where. Hopefully they get their act together.

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We are having a nice time. Someone asked about entertainment. All the production shows have been Opera. Same singers with occasional dancer back up. We have been in the ship since Dec 6th, as we boarded in Barcelona. We reserve the shows via the interactive screens in the hall, head out there after dinner just about every evening, and 5 minutes later, we leave. I actually like Opera, but not every night. This will I am sure change once the ship starts it's run from Miami.

There is one guy in the sports bar that we absolutely love. An acoustic guitar player, who is amazing. He plays a lot of variety, but if you are a fan of "unplugged" versions of rock, you will want to see him play nightly. Standard Beatles, but also Tom Petty, U2, Tracy Chapman, classics, even Sinatra!

Other venues I can't comment on, as we usually resort to the free movies on pay per view. With no TV programming, they have a free section. But normally, it is $8 per movie; I know because they are still making billing mistakes!

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