slw207693

Indeed they all do multiple tasks - games earning Big O points, singing and chatting with guests at Captain’s and Repeaters parties, greeters as you embark and disembark and their production shows. Probably lots more behind the scenes we don’t know about

Thought I would mention a few items in regards to the cabin door and what’s new with it. There is a doorbell with a lovely chime. Butlers don’t just knock and come in now - they ring bell, wait, ring again, then knock before gently opening door. That said, there is a new notification system on the cabin number display. (First picture) just inside the room is a display that looks like a green slot. This is where you put a room key and the At Home button outside lights red. If you do NOT put your card in the slot (second picture) the USB ports in room WILL NOT activate. Remember those announcements of not leaving electronics plugged in and the cabin attendants will unplug them, well this alleviates that. When you are out of the room with your card, they are off. just above the green slot, (picture 3) is the temperature gauge - just a slide bar, difficult to assess what room temperature is. This has been a cooler Mediterranean cruise so I’ve had it more in the red at top, while husband wants it at bottom blue when he’s in here or at night. So far we haven’t found that happy medium. The button to push for Make up my room light outside turns green. The Do not disturb light when on is red. This enables staff to know if you are in room and don’t want to be disturbed. Feels like a very high end hotel..

currently on Vista - they are “The” Dream team! Left to Right: Paul, Leia, Christine

Paul Baya is the Cruise Director - great trivia questions, excellent memory for names, extremely personable Christine is the Social Hostess. She has scheduled numerous events and I’ve seen her attending tea time with guests Leia - is the Assistant Cruise Director. Bright and bubbly at the Repeaters party tonight I will capture the three of them together and post a picture for those who remember faces and not names

I posted pictures of the spa deck under the First on board Vista posting.

Today started out very rainy, as has every day of this trip has. Afternoons it clears up but it isn’t overly warm - maybe mid 60’s, maybe 17 C. (I know someone will correctly convert it) Had a massage today with Iilynn (pronounced eye-lynn) and for those on future Vista cruises, I would go to the Spa and get her booked before even dining reservations. she is THAT good. She is assigned to a couples double room, so one of you is going to be very relaxed and happy, but she does individual ones in that room as well. The spa deck is interesting. The therapy pool is up a staircase ( envision it as deck 15-1/2) while the hot tub are on deck 15 towards the front of the bow. The only area covered is the therapy pool and it’s a very open lattice work. All the loungers are in the sun. All the double loungers in any pool area are round. Maybe when you nap, you get into fetal position?? The locker rooms are very nice, very large showers, lockers have combinations, robes, towels all very fluffy. I wasn’t offered slippers so don’t know if they have them. Relaxation room in center of spa. The heated stone loungers are now out on the spa deck. I was in area yesterday having mani/pedi and we kept hearing alarm going off. In the ship design, the steam rooms have clear glass and are in the hallway on way to spa deck. Every time the door opens and lets steam out, it sets off the alarm. 😳 tonight is the first of the two repeaters party.

Tomorrow I will show spa pictures and our PH cabin (after stewards do their tidying up). After dinner in Grand dining room tonight (there is a Jacques selection for those who are missing it due to it being replaced by Ember) and watching one of the new shows performed in the Vista lounge with the entertainment team, we have waddled back to our room exhausted.

Nope, this is the only outdoor space to smoke. Same location but now smaller and enclosed. Only indoor space to smoke is new enclosed room on starboard side in front of Horizons on Deck 14. Spa is now entire front section forward of elevators on Deck 15 a very successful addition is the Aquamar Kitchen (where LaReserve is on Marina and Riviera). They have a table that seats 10 inside but have turned the outdoor area into seating with heaters in ceiling. (It’s been a cooler sailing in the Med). It is a sit down and order off menu set up. Right now very popular at breakfast (avocado toast, fancy pancakes, eggs made to order, smoothies like Waves); lunch - soups, poke bowls (excellent) tuna tacos, salads, etc. apparently Mr Del Rio said at the Cruise Critic meet and greet that they may contemplate using it for dinners in the future. in talking with Miami management, they are saying that this is a new Allura class that will be slightly different than Marina and Riviera. It doesn’t mean those ships will become what this ship is. It’s about being able to chose what you want when you sail. If you love Jacques and LaReserve, sail Marina and Riviera. If you want quicker dining option, Embers or Aquamar Kitchen on Vista. Staff has been top notch and friendly. Maximo has coffee started in Barristas the moment he sets eyes on you - he has the memory we all wish we had! Sr Executive Chef Frederic should be congratulated for all his team is doing to be on top of all the different foods. Last night was Italian Market dinner - Grazie Mille, it was outstanding

So sought out the outdoor smoking room, which is now enclosed and much smaller than the open area under the stairs on the other ships. I ventured in, one guest sitting in chair and he commented on the bar style stools covered in green velvet 😳 facing the sea they swivel, not all the way round, only partially and are high, very high and a real wobble to get in them. Few others wandered in and no one attempted them but leaned in between them. As you can see from the picture, someone has already burned a hole in the fabric as a non smoker, I didn’t stay too long in the blue room

First timers party was initiated last fall, but have been discontinued due to lack of guests attending.

The smoking room has two sets of doors, no smoke so far escaping into hallway. It is not a part of Horizons lounge. Also have not seen any officers in there on a break. had lovely dinner in RG tonight. Chef Frederick and all the culinary staff have done a magnificent job with the food. There is a little separate room we used in RG this evening. A certain cruise director referred to it as the “garage”, but I’m pretty sure that is not the official name for it. 😂

We at at Embers last night - I had lobster roll as starter, spouse had crab cake (different than Polo one), we had the lemon confit and burrata salad, then we both had the fish and chips. It was the Sea Bass (thickness was similar to RG miso glazed sea bass), they give 3 pieces (2 would have been plenty). Spouse had the triple chocolate brownie (brownie, I think chocolate ice cream then Carmel and chocolate sauce drizzled, topped with walnuts), I had 1 fried beignets (usually 3 come in a portion with 2 other sauces). with the bourbon Carmel sauce (only dish that was meh) Starter and salad were small, they all came out together. Once finished with those, very quickly came the fish and chips. We had to ask them to give us a few minutes before dessert was ordered. this is intended to be a quicker service restaurant (75 - 90 minutes). staff all worked together to make it flow smoothly and efficiently (not just a server and helper assigned to your table). Kitchen Galley is open at back so you can watch all the preparation or go and say hi and see the galley working in harmony

On each side of bed is 1 US socket, 1 USB (old style) slot and 1 USB lightining (newer electronics) slot on shelf near dining table there is 1 US plug, 1 European plug and the two different USB slots under makeup mirror across from the foot of the bed is a US plug and 2 sets of the different USB slots Further down on counter next to phone is a European plug and American plug pictures in order from descriptions above

Pool deck from Deck 14. Not a lot of loungers under shade - only one row, but lots of nook areas with round loungers. Weather cool outside Sorrento today not sure what I did to get words beside the pictures as I typed all the words then said add pictures and this is how it turned out 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

LYNC computer room

I stand corrected on internet connection - it is 1 log in per cabin except the Vista, Oceania and Owners suites who get 2 log-ins. This is the LYNC room (aka computer center). apparently they also loan out iPads

Extra wide hallway leading to Horizons

Those chairs in the first picture above surround the stage/dance floor. the first three pictures are the entrance to Smoking lounge. There are double doors and it has a very speak easy vibe to it. At the moment, I am not sure where the outdoor smoking area is.

Pictures of Horizons - no coffee or pastries in morning. They are in the expanded Barristas with the bakery. Lots of big windows in Horizons but you see the segmentation with the lights above. Tonight is Captains Welcome party and stage is more to the starboard side with the expanded bar on the port side as you immediately walk in. There is only one entrance. As you get off elevator, on starboard side is Artist Loft, the the new LYNC internet area, then a large training room of sorts next to that then the smoking lounge (I will post those pictures next) then walk into Horizons.

ChadnKate: When Riviera went in for her update last fall, one of the things that improved in the PH’s walk in closet was the bar holding the clothes that lights up when you touch a hanger, making it easier to view your clothing. For me, the walk in closet on Riviera and Marina is where I would change early morning while spouse slept and I didn’t disturb him. It was also convenient as a phone booth (we both still work) and we had a Zoom call.

Order of pictures terrace before deluge of guests Privee (seating for 14) Polo Waves grill aquamar Cafe (extremely popular today, but it’s a sit and be served restaurant) Embers Toscana Favorite Barristas Lync digital Center (located on deck 14 forward behind Artist Loft) - formerly Oceania @sea internet area Barristas bakery and seating area

Just got on Vista today in Civitavecchia and while we are still docked, internet seems lightening fast compared to Riviera which we were on three days ago. Seems that each cabin person gets a log in, on the basic plan I seem able to stream tic tok. I will try to do speed test and report numbers shortly

I’m trying to figure out how to post picture with commentary. Oceania @ Sea now called Lynx and he was giving group lessons on how to get connected to Starlink. I will go visit him tomorrow and have more interior pictures. anything specific you’d like me to post?