Seaside Spring Break Cruise - March 30, 2019

[lcookie]

So after sail away we get to the room and our bags are there.  We unpack a little and then veg out until dinner.  By this time the adrenaline is wearing off and all the happenings of the last two days are catching up to me.  Someway somehow my video/pics of the cabin have disappeared so I cant show you any much of the room.  What I can say is MSC is going the way of the other mass market lines with shrinking the cabin and reducing the storage space.  Our room on the Divina was huge with lots of storage.  This one not so much.

 

We have now gotten to the point that we store our toiletries in the room and just live out of our suitcases for the week.  This does help with last day packing :-).

 

All that aside the room was spacious enough for us to cohabitate without wanting to kill each other. Our reservation for the hibachi grill was 7 pm.  Around 6:30 we got dolled up and headed up to deck 16.

 

 

 

Teeny got the kids meal.  The portions did not seem any smaller than those off the regular menu. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama is allergic to seaweed so they swapper her sushi our for edamame.  They were very flavorful!  The sushi was not bad either.

 

 

Don't remember what this was but it was tasty.

 

The experience was nice but our chef needed a few more training classes.  He was having trouble with his showmanship. They can't do the fire volcanos and the like for obvious reasons, but here are a few of his showcases.

 

 

 

[lcookie]

More pics from the meal -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No good pics of my meal.  Those are missing from my camera roll as well.  Not sure what happened but I trace it all back to not having a power cord for my computer.  I was not able to archive files the way I wanted to.  Oh well. 

 

Mama had the Katana, Teeny had the Keiki Komodo Beef, and I had the Shogun. 

 

Teeny and I enjoyed our meals 100%.  In comparing the two we could tell the difference between her steak and the wagyu they served me.  Mama's chicken was a little off (so was the chicken for the rest of the table)  They offered to cook another round for the group and gave an additional discount off of the bill. 

[lcookie]

Summing up Day 1 we went to the show after dinner.  Plans were to meet up with the rest of our group 15 mins beforehand then find some seats together.  Needless to say travel had caught up with them so they decided to bypass the show for some shut eye.  We waited until the last minute then went in and got some seats.  The show was on par with what MSC had produced on the Divina, but I felt I enjoyed the Divina shows more.

 

After the show we wondered around the shops for a bit, stopped by for our night cap of chocolate, and then hit the sack.

 

That sums up Day 1 for us.  I will try to post more frequently for the remainder of the trip.  I have been logging excessive amounts of hours at work since we returned.  Should start getting back to the regular next week.

 

The VLOG for Day 1 is live.  you can view it from the link below.

 

 

[NYHartChapp]

Loving your review and pics!

[lcookie]

Rise and Shine Sleepy Heads!  Just like clockwork, I am up at the crack of dawn.  Here is one of my simple pleasures of cruising.  I have an epiphany for watching the cruise map to see where we are, where we've been, water depth, etc.   

 

 

 

Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? (Catching the sunrise)  Weather forecasts were good for the entire week but out at sea you just never know.  Sometimes rogue storms roll in, sometimes you're in port, sometimes there are low lying clouds.  All these things can ruin a good sunrise.  This is why I always try to film early and often during the cruise.  

 

 

They are just so majestic!

 

As you can see from the pic I did not find the best spot to film this.  The enclosures on Deck 8 were really high.  I learned later on that the views were better from the back of the ship.

 

[lcookie]

After capturing the sunrise I began my tour of the lower level public areas.  I then went to pick up lil bits for bfast.  Mama ain't an early riser so she generally catches up with us later in the day.  After eating we went back to the room to relax until the CC meet-n-greet. While we were resting Teeny fell back asleep so I went at it along.

 

 

 

There was a nice turn out for the event.  The Captain talked for a few moments then we took a pic and enjoyed some cake and drinks.  

 

 

Below is a pic of my private island!

 

 

I had a short conversation with the Captain.  To my surprise, he and the hotel director are total tech junkies.  We had a 5 min convo about my miniaturized stabilizer camera and a second on about how much we like drones. 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2019 by lcookie

[lcookie]

A couple more from the gathering. 

 

 

 

Here is a better pic of the sunrise.  I was able to get my video camera above the rails.

 

 

 

After the meeting those interested ventured over to the casino for the slot pull.  I was second to last for the pull.  When it was my turn the heat was on.  We hadn't lost all our money yet but we weren't Whistling Dixie either. 

 

This is the face you make when you just got that feeling.

 

 

Winna-Winna-Chickin-Dinna!!!

 

 

This is the face you make when you deliver on your promise!

 

 

It was all in fun but it is so much better when you win.

 

 

 

So hear's my confession.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I was just betting high and rolling the dice.  What happened to the old school machines???  At least back then you knew when you were winning.  Nowadays you have no idea - well at least I don't.

 

Side note - I don't gamble very often if at all so don't let my knowledge of the game be the standard.  

 

For the rest of the cruise I was known as Mr. Hot Hands :-).  Too bad I never dropped another dime in that place.  I sunk my funds into a bet I was sure to loose - The Chocolate Bar!!!!!

[lcookie]

After I collected my wheelbarrow full of loot, I went back to the room to get the girls.  Mama was up but Teeny was still down for the count.  Our next stop was lunch - Roy's Asain Market!

 

Instead of eating specialty dining for dinner we decided to do it for lunch.  This way we could have gourmet meals for lunch and have dinner with our group every night.  We were actually the only party in there for the greater portion of our meal.  

 

I ordered the fillet, Mama ordered the tuna, and Teeny ordered sushi.   We also had the treasure box and the bio bun.

 

 

 

 

Chop Stick Lessons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FMZ]

That's awesome about your win!! Must have felt good!!! 

[lcookie]

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 6:04 PM, FMZ said:

That's awesome about your win!! Must have felt good!!! 

 

It was just fun.  Never went back to capitalize on my hot hand lol.

[lcookie]

After our meal we headed down to the theater to get seats for the family comedy show. MSC does not do the traditional comedy shows.  They do an improv type show so you never see the same thing twice. 

 

This one loves to put her face in the camera!

 

 

 

Here we have two of our young'uns participating in the  live puppet show

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

OK Daddy, we have done all of this other stuff it is now time to hit the water! - Says Teeny.

 

The edict had been set so I had no choice but to comply.  We headed to the room to change outfits then headed up to the Jungle Pool area. (NO DETOURS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

All that pool stuff is nice but come on and SHOW ME DA MONEY!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

Now let's take to the skies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Arzeena]

I am really enjoying your review. 😊 Keep it coming! Thank you for taking time to do this.

[lcookie]

Like all good athletes one must know how to cool down after a workout.

 

 

 

Of course she can't let me relax alone!

 

 

Meanwhile Mama sits on the sidelines

 

 

[lcookie]

33 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

I am really enjoying your review. 😊 Keep it coming! Thank you for taking time to do this.

 

Thanks for following along.  Sorry it is dragging out so long.

[lcookie]

We leave the waterpark with just enough time to get freshened up for Formal Night.  Usually I am all geeked up for formal night pics, but we just took at slue of pics on our Allure OTS vacation and our faces have not changed that much :-)

 

Lady-In-Red!

 

 

More of us

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

Before I go on I must get gripe 4 out of the way.  Here goes -

 

MSC hosts 3 dinners on the Seaside.  Why is it everyone in the world knows with the exception of MSC.  When we booked there were two dining timed (early and late) available.   We chose late assuming that would be around 7 ish.  (note that I have not researched the boat yet)  Well, after final payment I printed off our cruise docs and saw where we were assigned 9 pm dinner.  By this time I have done all my research and noted the Seaside had 3 dining times.  I call in to request middle dining and the rep says we only have 2 seating times.  I'm like no you have 3.  She reassured me that they only had 2 times.  Well I simply requested to be moved from the 9 pm seating.  I would then just wait and see and request a change on the boat if needed.  Worse case we would have 5 pm dinner.  We can live with 5 much better than 9 pm.  How is it they don't know their own boat has 3 dining times?

 

Now back to the story.

Edited April 22, 2019 by lcookie

[lcookie]

As you remember we skipped MDR dinner for the Specialty Restaurant on Day 1, so this is our first time in the dining room. 

 

Everything was just as you would expect.  The only thing was that the meal felt rushed.  Seeing as they only have two hour time slots between seating ,they really need to get you in and out in about 90 mins.  I like to savor my meals, and we use dinner as a time to catch up on the days events.  I did not like the quick vibe, but dealt with it as I understand the plight of the staff.  I am sure they don't like it either.

 

Here are pics of our meal.

 

Apps -

 

 

 

 

 

Main -

 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2019 by lcookie

[lcookie]

Dessert -

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

Well duty calls so I must run now.  Hope to post more later tonight.  The VLOGS went live this weekend.  They are linked below.  View them now or wait until I conclude Seaday 1 if you don't want any spoilers.

 

Part 1

 

 

Part 2

 

 

[mimmy52]

Glad you found time for more posts.  Look forward to seeing more.

[kerryw29]

enjoying your review.  I will be on Seaside on May 4th!

[Chris4me]

This is such an amazing review.  Thank you for taking the time to do this.  I am enjoying it so much!