Meraviglia New York-Canada-Miami Oct/Nov '19

[sfaaa]

3 hours ago, Beamafar said:

😱

  The way people come up at 12.30pm to wait for the station to open, you would think that they hadn't seen food for a week!

 

 

 

Can you blame them? Last chance to pile up the plate and stuff themselves silly before they go back to their same old same old boring diet at home.

[Host Jazzbeau]

8 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Tonight is our 3rd Elegant night of this leg (our 6th in all).  It's lobster night (which I really don't get the fuss about because I've never had it and won't even try it!  We were in Bar Harbor, for Heaven's sake ... if I didn't try it there, there's no way I'll try it anywhere else lol 😏)

 

And if you had tried it there, you'd be disappointed with it on any ship! 

[hamrag]

14 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

The sign that's totally ignored lol  You can see the sinks immediately to the right in this photo.

 

I would place that sign directly beside the food, and insist on doing the 'sniff test' before serving anyone anything!

 

So, we have a most delightful 4 year old grandson, and he is taught to wash hands after toileting (nothing unusual about that, I hear you say)! The funny bit is, that when we are there he immediately comes over and says Gran/Grampa smell my lovely hands....that is the 'sniff test'!

[hamrag]

15 hours ago, Beamafar said:

We've been treated as though we're doing a B2B and have received all the Diamond perks twice.  I'm happy with this because we had to get off in NY (not MSC's fault, I know) but we also didn't receive a newspaper that morning, either, despite it not being a disembark/re-embark, 2 bookings cruise.  The way I feel about it is that we've been treated in some ways as though we were B2B, so it's good that we're getting the benefits of it.  😉

😊 That is great, and the least you deserve with a 22 nighter....I'd forgotten all about the newspaper perk, it's a lovely touch and one we particularly appreciate on sea days....and you will get another chocolate ship each, so make sure you have a dental appointment lined up when home. 😉

 

Been following you all the way through, and thoroughly enjoying your posts....many thanks for the time taken.

Edited November 8, 2019 by hamrag

[Beamafar]

2 hours ago, hamrag said:

 

I would place that sign directly beside the food ...

 

 

The sign is right where people line up and get their plates 🙄

 

Thanks for your very nice comments, G.  🙂

I doubt I'll be posting for the next couple of days;  I've used up most of my allowance and only have 500mbs left 😱

[Cruising89143]

17 hours ago, Beamafar said:

I witnessed an off-putting incident at the pool grill today.  The food had been laid out but wasn't available to have just yet.  A couple of (mature)  women came along to see what was on offer.  One was wearing bikini bottoms and slapped herself on the behind before rubbing her hands along the rail at the food station 😱

 

There is a sign up asking people to wash their hands before coming for food;  I noted that I was the only one who did.  The sinks are right next to the food station!  The way people come up at 12.30pm to wait for the station to open, you would think that they hadn't seen food for a week!

 

 

The sign that's totally ignored lol  You can see the sinks immediately to the right in this photo.

This is the main reason that we avoid buffets of any type. Too many people who refuse to wash their hands and also have zero manners when obtaining their food.

[Nashna]

2 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

This is the main reason that we avoid buffets of any type. Too many people who refuse to wash their hands and also have zero manners when obtaining their food.

I wish I could disagree with your assessment...but, you are spot on.  We have been on sailings where the crew is stationed by the wash basins or they are carrying hand sanitizers to ensure that everyone cleans their hands.  I do appreciate this extra effort by the cruise lines.  One problem that I have seen with many ships is that the buffet is in the main traffic pattern which makes it impossible to know who will be dining from the passengers who are just walking by.

[DCGuy64]

Why do I get the sense that the same people who refuse to wash their hands are the ones who say they won't sail on cruise line X because too many people get sick?

[Dr. Cocktail]

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Why do I get the sense that the same people who refuse to wash their hands are the ones who say they won't sail on cruise line X because too many people get sick?

 

Like your wife, I have been *ahem* politely know to challenge people about their lack of sanitizing.

 

The usual (serious) response of "but I washed them when I left my cabin" usually leaves me gobsmacked. When I ask if they used any handrails or opened a door or touched anything, I'm met with a blank stare!

 

And to all the naysayers, research FULLY supports the use of hand sanitizers and is now indeed the standard of practice in most North American hospitals!

[DLA57]

I think I'm bringing a box of latex gloves and hand sanitize 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2019 by DLA57

[sfaaa]

2 hours ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

 

 

 

And to all the naysayers, research FULLY supports the use of hand sanitizers and is now indeed the standard of practice in most North American hospitals!

Many newer ships now have hand washing sinks with soap at buffet entrance. The old 'I won't use hand sanitizer because I have sensitive skin' excuse is just lame. 

[emmas gran]

YC restaurant has sink and soap at the entrance with face cloths for drying hands

[Beamafar]

Looks like we may be in for a long day tomorrow.  I've no idea, yet, if YC guests will be prioritised.  Our flight's not til 10pm and we had no plans for the day, other than to get a room in an airport hotel for the day.

 

 

This will seriously impact embarkation tomorrow.

 

 

[Beamafar]

Anyone have any idea of how much a taxi would cost from Miami port to the airport?  I can't use Uber or Lyft as I won't have internet.  I used my own roaming data last January for Uber and it cost me more than a taxi fare would have. 🙄 

[Mattnvick]

16 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Anyone have any idea of how much a taxi would cost from Miami port to the airport?  I can't use Uber or Lyft as I won't have internet.  I used my own roaming data last January for Uber and it cost me more than a taxi fare would have. 🙄 

Bea cant you use the PoM Wi-Fi to call uber?

[Beamafar]

Just now, Mattnvick said:

Bea cant you use the PoM Wi-Fi to call uber?

 

I couldn't last January.  I didn't think the port had wifi.  Even if I could access it in the building, I'd need to be able to let the driver know where to pick us up and I wouldn't have a clue about where that would be.  Once outside, there's no wifi and I would need it to keep in touch with the driver.

 

I just think getting a taxi would be easier for us and need to know how much it would cost.

 

Do they take credit cards?  I'm running low on dollars and need to know if I have to get some extra in the casino today.

[lakelivin2]

40 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Anyone have any idea of how much a taxi would cost from Miami port to the airport?  I can't use Uber or Lyft as I won't have internet.  I used my own roaming data last January for Uber and it cost me more than a taxi fare would have. 🙄 

I think the last time we did this (last year) it was about $25 (that may have been with tip).  It is quite quick and Sunday should have little traffic (at least in the morning).

[Beamafar]

Just now, lakelivin2 said:

I think the last time we did this (last year) it was about $25 (that may have been with tip).  It is quite quick and Sunday should have little traffic (at least in the morning).

That sounds reasonable, thanks!

[Mattnvick]

16 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

I couldn't last January.  I didn't think the port had wifi.  Even if I could access it in the building, I'd need to be able to let the driver know where to pick us up and I wouldn't have a clue about where that would be.  Once outside, there's no wifi and I would need it to keep in touch with the driver.

 

I just think getting a taxi would be easier for us and need to know how much it would cost.

 

Do they take credit cards?  I'm running low on dollars and need to know if I have to get some extra in the casino today.

 

They definitely do as. that's what we used to connect with uber last time  from just outside. 

However for a regular taxi on doing some internet  research it says $27. Don't know about the use of c.c. Sorry. Most cab firms these days though do. 

[Beamafar]

My biggest dilemma today is who to tip and how much without the amount being an insult!  There are just too many wonderful crew it's going to be difficult to whittle it down.

[hamrag]

1 minute ago, Beamafar said:

My biggest dilemma today is who to tip and how much without the amount being an insult!  There are just too many wonderful crew it's going to be difficult to whittle it down.

Deary me, your cruise stretched out for 22 days and now it's almost done....Till the next one!

 

Thank you so much for taking us on your journey, from afar....and wear something warm on the flight, your gonna get a temperature shock back home!!

[mickey89]

UK weather forecast is SNOW on the way for this weekend, wrap up warm. Snow as far south as Shrewsbury last night.

[EMc&DrS]

I have so enjoyed following along on your journey.  Thank you for taking the time to share so much great info!  Question--do they use the wristbands in YC for everything on Meraviglia like they do on Seaside?

[sidari]

Bea we paid $30 to the airport last year from Bayside and the yellow cab had a card machine, purchases had been picked up by a company we got in touch with before the end of the cruise, they met us at the airport at our pre arranged time. Think is was about $49 though.

[Beamafar]

Just now, sidari said:

Bea we paid $30 to the airport last year from Bayside and the yellow cab had a card machine, purchases had been picked up by a company we got in touch with before the end of the cruise, they met us at the airport at our pre arranged time. Think is was about $49 though.

I saved the info you gave me about the service that picks your luggage up and holds it in the airport but I decided to get a room so we can relax before the flight.

 

We can stay onboard til 11am then face immigration ... heaven knows how long that'll take 🙄  As it's in the terminal we won't get priority