Live from the Sky Christmas/New Yrs

[Northern Light]

I have a question about the chairs in the Marketplace.   From the photos, they all look the same.   When we were on the CB recently the did have those chairs but also another choice.  The back was more solid down to the seat with just a vertical cutout in middle.   Are there any on the Sky like this?  Thanks for posting all the pictures and the comments of life onboard.

Sandy 

[Pedro's Girl]

I realize the chance of getting a place in the Sanctuary is pretty slim -- even if you go immediate upon boarding. 

But does anyone have additional info on the few cabanas that are outside of the Sanctuary (but still have the nice cushions etc.).  I believe I saw photos posted here somewhere ?    Are they reserved through the Sanctuary (ie same line?)   Any experience as to whether they are easier to come by?  Thanks!!

 

[tk2fast]

It is really disappointing to hear about the Sanctuary being booked up already immediately upon getting on the ship.

 

This is the one thing my wife was really looking forward to on our April booking and now it seems like it's going to be a no go. What is the problem here. Too small a space for the demand? One would think Princess had issues like this worked out with this new ship. Ugh!  

[Colo Cruiser]

16 minutes ago, tk2fast said:

It is really disappointing to hear about the Sanctuary being booked up already immediately upon getting on the ship.

 

This is the one thing my wife was really looking forward to on our April booking and now it seems like it's going to be a no go. What is the problem here. Too small a space for the demand? One would think Princess had issues like this worked out with this new ship. Ugh!  

What is there to work out? 

It is the same on all ships.

It is just really popular.

In addition more and more people are taking many b2b's.

I just hope they don't make it available to pre reserve online.

IMO........In that case you would never have a chance.

[kywildcatfanone]

Why?  Currently the only people who can book it are either in transit or elite passengers who board in the first group.  At least if it was available to be booked online, every passenger would have the ability to participate based upon when they book their cruise.

 

That seems more fair to me than the current way.

[kywildcatfanone]

58 minutes ago, Pedro's Girl said:

I realize the chance of getting a place in the Sanctuary is pretty slim -- even if you go immediate upon boarding. 

But does anyone have additional info on the few cabanas that are outside of the Sanctuary (but still have the nice cushions etc.).  I believe I saw photos posted here somewhere ?    Are they reserved through the Sanctuary (ie same line?)   Any experience as to whether they are easier to come by?  Thanks!!

 

They do book via the Sanctuary, but I have seem them open all day on many cruises, so their availability is much greater generally speaking from what I have seen.

[Pedro's Girl]

Thanks! Possible Plan B.

[h-sar]

Just now, Pedro's Girl said:

Thanks! Possible Plan B.

are you talking about the ones that are just above the retreat pool, outside of the sanctuary? If so, I think I discussed it in an earlier post. I checked and they were $80 for the full day and $50. for the half day. I think you might have an easier bet with those than the sanctuary booking, but I would still do it immediately upon boarding. There’s room for two full padded loungers in the cabanas. 

[h-sar]

Got back on the ship around 3:30 in the middle of a downpour, which thankfully only lost a few minutes each. Rest of the family decided to do some shopping by the port.
 

Figured I would use this opportunity to investigate the location of the escape room. The location was not easy to find and managed to escape me the first couple of rounds I made on 18 after having checked the princess website plans for the sky. It looks like it should be just adjacent to the basketball court, but I went around in circles not seeing anything.

Finally ended up in the kids’ club, hence the picture of the teen numbers below,  and asked one of the workers there. She told me that I had to actually walk through the basketball court. Doing that and walking twice through the smoking section on this quest, I made two sacrifices for y’all. 😄. There were actually quite a few people smoking at the back of 17 today. I took a picture for anyone who might be interested, but did not want to get too close and violate people’s privacy. So, not the best picture.
 

The picture below of the bball Court, with the colourful wall, shows a door to the far right which apparently is the escape room. Is labelled Experience Room. Will try to get more information from someone in the know later.

 

When I came back at 3:30 PM, here’s what was available for food. And this would be typical of any day:
 

International café

poolside pizza

salty dog

Horizon bistro which had fruit, many salads, soups, self-serve fresh sandwich making station with different breads, cheeses, and meats. A carving station, rotisserie chicken. As well, fixings for tacos, nachos, and fajitas. The fajita mixes are actually very good. There is fresh guacamole, corn salsa, tomato salsa, and all the condiments. The pulled pork Carnitas are very, very good.
 

The World Fresh market place is closed for about three hours or thereabouts between lunch and dinner. Looks like they are putting together a really nice spread for New Year’s in the marketplace.
 

So, one will not starve when coming back from Port, contrary to what many people say when they see that part of the buffet is closed pre-dinner. They don’t tend to acknowledge all the other places that have food available.

 

pic 2 is smoking section

did not get a picture of the number of kids in the preteen club. Will try later. I would expect there were probably more kids in the Christmas cruise. I have to say all the kids have been very well behaved these two weeks. Good job, parents!

 

Second last picture shows the new staircase going from 16 to 17. On the regal, it was extremely narrow, almost dangerous. On the sky, it is a double staircase converging into one, all of it extremely wide all the way down. Might have mentioned this in a previous post, but cannot remember.

 

last picture shows the water station at the very back of the buffet in the outside area by the Wakeview pool. This is the best place to fill up water bottles conveniently. Of course, please do not put the mouth of your bottle against the tap, but use a glass instead.

 

[h-sar]

Here are a few pictures I just took of some of the fancier items that have been put out for the New Year’s Eve dinner buffet. I really hope that the sky does what the regal has done the last few years, and have a midnight buffet of cool appetizers. Not that I really need more food, LOL.

 

of course, there is a lot more food out in the buffet than what I posted. 
 

just saw the buffet sous chef and he said there will be a midnight buffet from 1130 to 1:00 in the bistro side.

 

Edited December 31, 2019 by h-sar

[Colo Cruiser]

Starving!  😳

[h-sar]

Just now, Northern Light said:

I have a question about the chairs in the Marketplace.   From the photos, they all look the same.   When we were on the CB recently the did have those chairs but also another choice.  The back was more solid down to the seat with just a vertical cutout in middle.   Are there any on the Sky like this?  Thanks for posting all the pictures and the comments of life onboard.

Sandy 

Doing my pre-dinner sampling of food in the buffet and took a few pictures for you LOL. The sacrifices I make, ha ha.

 

First picture shows the chairs in the world fresh market place which is towards the back of the ship. they have solid backs  at the top and two or three different patterned cushions.

 

picture  2 shows the chairs in the Horizon bistro with vertical slats at the top.

 

Picture three shows the high chairs at the high tables in the bistro area.

 

I do not see any other styles.

[h-sar]

On 12/29/2019 at 2:51 PM, dkitty said:

the above snacks look incredible!  Are you doing a tour in St Martin?  I have a Bernards tour schedule, not sure if I should keep it it not .  Thanks for all your posts.

 

(oops, found this post in my drafts file. Not sure if it originally got posted or not.)

We’ve done a few tours in Saint Martin already, so the last few times, have gone to Orient beach, by the Bikini beach bar. We actually managed to reserve, a couple months back, loungers right in the first row by the water. Discovered last year when we were there that one could do this. No extra charge for this other than the cost of the chairs. And PS, in case you’re wondering, this is not the clothing optional side LOL. That’s on the other side of the beach.

 

If you have not done a tour there before, you should really do it at least once. My stipulation with the family is that the first time we are on an island, we must do a historical/cultural tour; after that, the kids can pick a beach. The social teacher in me, I guess 😄.

[rerepunim]

Thank you for your great pics, commentary and sense of humor .I am thoroughly enjoying your cruise 😊 Happy New Year !!

[imapost2003]

Sorry to bother you with a not so important question.  When ordering domestic beer(specifically miller lite) is it a can, bottle, or 16oz twist top aluminum bottle?

Also, any info about the escape room would be appreciated.  When and where do we sign up?  Cost?  Is it something we should sign up for right away so it doesnt sell out?

[voljeep]

13 minutes ago, imapost2003 said:

16oz twist top aluminum bottle?

this

[h-sar]

Just now, voljeep said:

this

👍🏼

[Northern Light]

Thank you h-sar for your kindess in taking photos of the chairs.  Unfortunately they tell me that I will never get DH on this particular ship. It is what it is.  Thanks again and have a Happy New Year.

 

Sandy

[h-sar]

Just now, Northern Light said:

Thank you h-sar for your kindess in taking photos of the chairs.  Unfortunately they tell me that I will never get DH on this particular ship. It is what it is.  Thanks again and have a Happy New Year.

 

Sandy

So sorry to hear that.

[h-sar]

Just now, imapost2003 said:

Sorry to bother you with a not so important question.  When ordering domestic beer(specifically miller lite) is it a can, bottle, or 16oz twist top aluminum bottle?

Also, any info about the escape room would be appreciated.  When and where do we sign up?  Cost?  Is it something we should sign up for right away so it doesnt sell out?

I don’t drink, but I imagine most beer drinkers would disagree that is is a ‘not so important question’ 😄. Glad Voljeep was able to assist. 
 

On embarkation day on the first leg, we bought my brother a bucket of beer, or a bouquet of beer as my daughter said, on his birthday. It was $32 for the bucket of Corona.

 

Am determined to get to the bottom of this escape room, so will report back. 

[tk2fast]

5 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

What is there to work out? 

It is the same on all ships.

Just because it's like that on all the ships does not make it better. 

 

Evaluating what the customer wants is part of the initial design process, which should have been easy to do since "it's like this on all the ships." I know I'm being a little critical here but to advertise the Sanctuary with almost no chance of booking it is absurd. If it's like that on all the ships why not make it larger instead of alienating your customer.

[h-sar]

Le Mer was super busy tonight as I walked by. Lots of families. 
 

Below is the MDR New Yrs menu. I don’t eat seafood (but love whitefish), so had the sole. Was pretty great. As was the nightly profiterole. See what I mean about putting it on the every day dessert menu?! The warm chocolate pudding cake was a hit. Everyone but me had the caviar over warm potato as a starter and then had the lobster three ways. Said it was very good, but the risotto could have used more flavouring. We also shared the tournedos. 

 

Also pics of the gelato place, the lovely and talented string quartet, and the birds from the evening lecture in the piazza. It was a....different thing to be having just before formal night dinner, but went over extremely well.
 

Taking a few minute respite in the cabin before heading back out for the festivities. Heels are a...pain in the heel. 

[h-sar]

Curious to see what they’ll do instead of the balloon drop. I’m thinking streamers based on a contraption I saw on 7. 

[h-sar]

Just now, h-sar said:

Curious to see what they’ll do instead of the balloon drop. I’m thinking streamers based on a contraption I saw on 7. 

They shot out the sparkly little bits of square paper that one sees at sports championship parades. Is there a proper word for the paper other than sparkly bits? Thinking not confetti. 
 

Great party poolside on 16 and 17. Our family rang in the new year and the new decade around the piazza as is our tradition. The kids found us just before 12 and then went back to their friends and the deck party while we went looking for snacks after quickly checking out Static on the deck.

 

I was disappointed with the midnight new yrs buffet on Sky. Regal does a great job of putting together some intricate little dishes that are not found any other time. Sky simply had recycled food items from the buffet and pastry shop from tonight’s dinner. Anything that was made fresh was from their regular menu, such as French fries or chicken fingers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not lacking for food; if anything, I need to do a full day fast. This eating every hour is killing me 😁. I just enjoyed the special Princess touch on Regal. But seems like it was more a Regal touch and not a Princess touch judging by the lack of it on Sky. 
 

The various parties going on last night did great justice to ringing in the new yr. The one at poolside was the place to be, though. 
 

Here are a few pics of the festivities. Went with a sparkly red $19 Ross number 😄. 
 

Happy New Year, friends! 

[worldtraveller]

If you happen to be up on the Sun deck (#17) again, can you take a photo of the hallway area by S110 & S112 as well as the doorways?  I know this is a strange request but last year we were on the Emerald and there was a jutout of some kind by the door which made getting in & out with a wheelchair or walker very difficult even though they were the approved width. We are on the Sky later this year so would like to know in advance if we may have the same issue and if one doorway has the issue but not the other we may need to change people around (my father uses a WC or walker depending on how he is doing and distance we are going).

 

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your cruise.