celoplyr

26 minutes ago, J0Y0US said:

 Hope you had a great trip.

 

With Sorrento's I am wondering if they do custom pizza's if you are taking the whole thing.

On the Symphony in December, they would not.  They had their list, and would make you a pizza from the list to take, but would not do a custom pizza (like chicken and pepperoni on a regular pizza when they had all the ingredients).  

18 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Usually announce about 30-days before.      Just assume the testing will remain in place and you should order your kits about 1 to 2 weeks before your cruise and not wait until the last minute as there have been some reports of shipping delays or an occasional out of stock since everyone is traveling/cruising, etc and using these kits.   

the current plan is to really discuss if we want to go that route (I think we do, we did the Walgreens route for our other cruises, but with this one the proctored ones make sense) and to purchase about a month ahead of time.  There are 3 of us in one location, 2 in another, and 1 more in a 3rd... so picking out how many tests to get is also an annoying proposition.  Do we get 4 (for the 3 of us) or 3 for the set of 3 and 3 for the set of 2 so that we have a backup? Etc Etc Etc... these things aren't cheap!

Testing with the proctored tests will allow us to test at 7am on Saturday (cruise on Monday) so that we can know before our 10am flight.

6 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

I really liked MTD in it’s early form years ago.  Not any more, as it has changed on most ships.  Every time it comes up on cruise critic, I try to warn people about the new, unimproved MTD regime.  It started before the shutdown and made quite an impression on me on Harmony.  Now that passenger counts are are approaching full capacity, the really long lines when MTD finally opens are recurring.  It is not just a staffing shortage; it is the new system.

 

That is not entirely correct.

Here us how it works on Harmony.  Traditional early dining uses decks 3, 4, and 5 at about 5 pm.  So all the tables are quickly and efficiently filled with assigned guests right away (except those tables that happen to be empty because guests elect to eat elsewhere that night).  MTD is not scheduled to start until about 6:30-7:00 or so (about when some early traditional diners finished with meals).  As the early traditional diners on deck 3 vacate their tables, the tables are cleaned and MTD guests are then seated.  Meanwhile, there is pent up demand for tables as many MTD guests expected to be able to get a table as early as 5pm (they did not read threads like this or did not believe them).  So the MTD line at opening is long.  Knowing the line is long, others with later reservations line up, hoping to reach the front of the line by the time if their reservation.  Also remember:if service for early dining guests happens to be slow for any reason, the early diners will of course exit later, making the MTD guests wait longer on nights when service is apt to be slow once they are finally seated; a recipe for frustration.  
 

Pre shutdown lines for MTD on deck 3 were so bad as we exited early traditional dining, we had difficulty getting past the waiting people to reach the elevators or the stairs to leave the area.  The people waiting in the (disorganized looking) end of the MTD line were cranky, some acting as though everyone going to the elevator or stair lobby was trying to cut into their line.  It made quite an impression on us.  We won’t do MTD, and I mo longer recommend it to anyone who likes to eat relatively early.
 

Late Traditional dining is on deck 4 and 5.  

I agree this is the current practice.  It feels different than what happened in the before times, so we were caught off guard (it used to be 5:00 reservations, now the earliest is 6:30/6:45). 

We only started cruising because of MTD- my parents were very nervous about eating with others- and we have now switched to early dining because we want to eat at 5:30.  At least we are no longer in large tables, so Dad is happy still.

Does anyone know when they will announce the testing requirement for after June 30th? That's all their current requirement goes towards, according to the phone rep.  It's stressful, so of course, I'd like them to stop (actually I'd REALLY like them to stop for just my party, and test the rest of the ship, but I'd also like the casino to give me $5 million and I think that's more likely).  I also would like to know when to buy the emed kits, so I'm hoping they won't leave the decision until the last minute.

We had balconies connect on the Ovation before (but they weren't connecting balconies, we just were side by side).  It's easy enough to ask your steward to do, and they will, as long as you're not across a fire break, or the Captain said not to do it.

43 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

It's a standard 3 prong plug like found in every house in the US and Canada.

Thank you! That will help her pick out which of her 27 chargers she will want to bring on this trip....

I love my family, I love my family....

My mother (who is crazy) is wondering if the plug by the bed is a 2 pronged or 3 pronged outlet.... Of course, she won't get her own cruise critic log in to ask!

It has always been based on bar sales.  Unfortunately, bar sales are up (they say all onboard spending is up), so less chance of the card being offered.

I really appreciate everything you've done to help us understand the Quantum in Alaska.  Thank you very much- heck I even got my mother (the hot chocolate addict) to read your entire thread to date.  I'm only slightly in trouble!! But she went through every picture, ever comment!!

Thank you for the menu.

If anyone is on the July 4th sailing, you'll be able to find me. I'll be the person hauling a suitcase full of hot chocolate mix for the parents who are addicted to it....

1 hour ago, twangster said:

 

I'm not sure on iFly.  I've done it a number of times on other ships so I didn't book it this time.  It is sold out here on day 2, but a lot of things say that in the app.

 

I'm not a big sweets kind of person so I'm not sure on the chocolate situation either.

If you remember, could you just look at La Patisserie's menu?  If they have 4 types, vs 1, it means my parents won't have to bring their hot chocolate supply from home with them.  they're addicted!! if it's 1, "have hot chocolate, will travel"

Oh I have so many questions, since we are going in July.

How fast did ripcord (free) sell out? Is this one of the cruises without the Key (we bought the Key as a pampering experience and were wondering how it's going)?  If not, can you tell me what the Key is doing? What's the percent occupancy?  

Oh! What's the hot chocolate situation at La Patisserie? Last time they had 4 different types, but it doesn't look like they still do 😞

34 minutes ago, newcruzer2 said:

Where do you find these???? My mother would love them

EDIT- never mind, just saw the other post.... 😞

We have to sail when there are a lot of kids (my whole family are teachers) so it doesn't bother me.  However, it will be crowded, but a lot of kids will be at the kids club.  So I don't know what reservations you're hoping for, and how kids will affect those (like if you're hoping to go to the ice skating show during the day time hours, yes that will be harder to get reservations, but if you're late night people, it won't make as big of a difference).  how aggravated do you get normally at the small number of kids?

Maybe for us, it isn't as big of a deal, because Mom puts on her "teacher voice" and I have a "teacher stare" and all of a sudden the kids scatter like roaches away from us! If we really need it, Dad puts on the "principal voice and stare" and whoosh there goes everyone, even the parents!

16 minutes ago, PCWalton1 said:

OK, so both reservations stay on my page? When check in starts we just put appropriate CCs on the bookings?

 

yup.  I have 4 reservations for my family's Alaska cruise on my page, and I ain't paying for any others but mine.  when  you check is when you'll put in a card for onboard spending.

1 hour ago, mndity said:

I am 53 days away from my Alaskan cruise & all I see is the kids menu every night. Cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, & cheese pizza every nite!!!

Me too! I wonder if it's because the Quantum isn't sailing in the US yet?

I received mine 8 weeks from the time I mailed it in, to the time I got it (early Feb to early April).  It can be a crap shoot.  I had sent a form in, but they didn't think they had it and requested it again.  That probably accounted for 2 weeks of the delay.

1 hour ago, bstel said:

we just turn our kids (10 and 11) loose, and tell them to meet us at debarkation.  We figure someone will bring them back if there is an issue as there are plenty of helicopter parents on board...

 

 

 

This is what I do to my parents.  "Now that we are on the boat, don't  get off the boat until I tell you to". 

When I link my reservations, it's always interesting that my mom calls from my phone- as does my cousin and my aunt.  (I have their approval....)

28 minutes ago, celoplyr said:

My Antarctica operator is now out of business but I booked with a boat that is now being offered by G adventures (although if you can find them, they're often cheaper with a travel agent).  

 

If I had to do it again, I would pick Oceanwide for Antarctica, as their boats seem the most similar to what I had.  In fact, I'm considering them for the Arctic!

Sorry, not enough coffee yet.  The Galapagos boat was a boat with G adventures, but I booked directly through an Ecuadorian based travel agency. There are many boats that you can pick from, and the best decisions are made on what kind of boat you want, and what itinerary you want.

I tend to have really bare bones travel, which is cheaper than average for those regions.  Silver Sea would be a much nicer boat, but I love the smaller ship feeling (everyone can only be in the lounge for example) and smaller price tags

13 hours ago, kaymoz said:

Hello Celoplyr,  Could you please tell me which expedition operator you sailed with for your Galapagos and Antartica voyages?  Many thanks!

My Antarctica operator is now out of business but I booked with a boat that is now being offered by G adventures (although if you can find them, they're often cheaper with a travel agent).  

If I had to do it again, I would pick Oceanwide for Antarctica, as their boats seem the most similar to what I had.  In fact, I'm considering them for the Arctic!

Expedition cruises are usually under 500 people (I've been on one with 92 passengers, and one with 16 and want to do one with 32) and aren't luxury- but may be expensive.  The one with 16 passengers was $2500/person for 7 days, the one with 92 was 10k/person for 10 days.... Of course they were amazing locations (Galapagos and Antarctica) so it justified the price  to me- but I am only one person.  I'd much rather pay more for an amazing location than another Caribbean tour!

5 hours ago, RFerrington said:

Highly unlikely.  Moving the sets from one ship to another would be onerous.

True, but all the scenarios feel unlikely to me:

Rolling cast issues (with no fix)

Rolling crew issues (with no fix)

no more Broadway show on Symphony

etc etc etc.  I try and find the "best" option- and then wait for it to be wrong!

5 hours ago, swoopy2110 said:

They told us on the 29th January Symphony sailing that the cast were in changeover and Hairspray wouldn't be on the following week either.

 

Has there been a single showing of Hairspray since the Symphony was taken out of service for 2  weeks in January ?

Nor before, I was on the Dec 22nd cruise, and I think the week after also had no Hairspray.

13 hours ago, ownedbypets said:

We were on last week and I was also disappointed with no Hairspray. I was told it hasn't been shown for over a month and no restart date has been set, that it was doubtful for the near future.

4 minutes ago, ownedbypets said:

 

It could be covid but I doubt it since it has been at least 6 weeks since a.performance and when we asked last week about covid we were told that no crew tested positive. 

I'm wondering if maybe Hairspray is going to the Wonder, because it has been WAY too long with no show (2+ months as far as I know, since I was on the Xmas sailing and we didn't have it either).  Switching ships, and rehearsing on the new ship would make sense, more than they've had bad luck for 9 weeks straight.