Just Finished Serenade to Alaska from Seattle

[DeputyDawg46]

I just finished the Serenade of the Seas out of Seattle to Alaska on 6 Sep 21.  The ship was at 36% passenger capacity was not crowded.  This was my first  cruise in 18 months.  The checking in went smooth with a Health Welfare station first and then moving on to check-in.  On ship by 10:30.  Some things I noticed as changes.

 

-  WindJammer was not open for evening meal.  Closed at 3 pm.  All food was served by a RCI server at each station.  Your SeaPass card was scanned coming in and also going out.  Major problem was that even though masks were required many people at every meal went around the WJ without one and servers/staff NEVER told them to wear one especially around the food area. Even when they were talking to staff/servers one-on-one they were not told!  I suspect most were just absent minded about it but a little reminder should have been made as some stood and talked right over the food.

-  Park Café and Starbucks was only option after MDR closed with limited food and hours.  

-  As D+ (soon Pinnacle) I was allowed 5 drinks on account/SeaPass card  per day not to exceed $13 per drink.  I do not drink alcohol so in getting soda/water I could get my five anytime during the day and anywhere with no specific time slot.  That means five for you and five for your spouse per day.

-  I didn't use the casino, spa, exercise room, or pools so can't comment on them.  However, I did see a crowded hot tub on the last night when we were closer to Seattle and it was warmer.

-  The mandatory muster drill is different and it seams like it is a requirement to have a cell phone to use their app.  You use the app and then watch a video or have a crew member that are stationed at the muster station show you how to wear the life jacket.  There was a requirement during a specified time frame for each person to at least go to the muster station to check in with a crew member.

-  As a vaccinated  passenger I had two wrist bands.  One to show I was vaccinated and another one to track my locations as I understood it.

-  In the main theater they had the vaccinated in the main and larger area on deck 5 and in the balcony on deck 6 for the unvaccinated/mixed.

-  The Theater for movies was closed.  They did have some movies in the Main Theater from time to time.

-  There is no longer a library.

-  Never saw anyone shooting pool so suspect that was closed.

-  The stools at the Sooner Bar itself on Deck 6 were off limits.  You could only sit in the cushion chairs.

-  Usually I get some chocolate covered strawberries in my room during the cruise and not sure if no longer offered or out of strawberries, but didn't get any.

-  Internet was extremely slow.

-  I thought the shows were below standard and the bands in the Centrum were poor and extremely loud.  The individuals on the solo time for piano and guitar were the exception.

-  The Meal with an Officer, which I get, used to have an officer of some sort sit at each table.  All the main officers were introduced and they all left leaving only the passengers to eat alone. They changed the name to Cheers with an Officer.

-  There were no behind the scenes in the kitchen or theater tours as well as no bridge tour.

 

The staff were always pleasant and cheerful and telling passengers how thankful they were that we were there.  A real positive atmosphere.

 

I have one or more cruises each month for the next 18 months so looking forward to seeing how things change and how the new way to cruise will become.

 

Hope this helps some who might have questions.  I'm sure there were many more changes in the areas I did not use so keep a look out for other posts that might have more data.

 

DDawg

 

 

[Murphy]

Thank you for sharing your experience.  Was the Schooner bar identified as a vaccinated area?  It was on our recent Freedom cruise and the barstools were accessible.  Perhaps because of the walk through layout on the Serenade they can't limit the access as easily.  Very interesting 

[flpenguin]

How was the weather in Alaska during the cruise.  We cruise next Sept.4 on the Serenade.  Our 2 previous Alaska cruises were the end of May so expecting weather to be different.  Thanks for your review.

[DeputyDawg46]

57 minutes ago, Murphy said:

Thank you for sharing your experience.  Was the Schooner bar identified as a vaccinated area?  It was on our recent Freedom cruise and the barstools were accessible.  Perhaps because of the walk through layout on the Serenade they can't limit the access as easily.  Very interesting 

I don't recall any signage saying only vaccinated.  It may have said in the Compass.  I didn't lounge there so didn't witness it.

[DeputyDawg46]

22 minutes ago, flpenguin said:

How was the weather in Alaska during the cruise.  We cruise next Sept.4 on the Serenade.  Our 2 previous Alaska cruises were the end of May so expecting weather to be different.  Thanks for your review.

It was light jacket weather for me.  There was light rain at two ports but overall fairly nice for getting out.

[bobmacliberty]

Thanks for sharing this!

[coaster]

Thank you for the details of your sailing. Going on Serenade next month out of Tampa. Do you recall seeing if Park Cafe was open in the late afternoon? I have late MDR and usually grab a snack at WJ  to hold me over until 8pm, but that might not still be an option next month.

Edited September 9, 2021 by coaster

[mafig]

How do they handle My Time Dining?

 

I have Brilliance reserved for Jan. and was just making My Time Dining Room reservations and noticed that the earliest time was 6:30.  I seem to recall something about the dining room early seating first and then the room switched over to My Time (or something like that).  

Can you fill in the details ?

 

 

[Eileen G]

We were on the week before you. I did see people playing pool one night. We also got chocolate covered strawberries on the first formal night. They may have run out or your cabin steward wasn't on the ball. I know we didn't get coconut shrimp one night in the MDR because they were out of coconut. How did you get on board that early. We arrived at the pier at 11:45 and they hadn't started boarding yet. We had a 12 time slot. They started soon after and we were on board quickly.

[DeputyDawg46]

4 hours ago, coaster said:

 Do you recall seeing if Park Cafe was open in the late afternoon? 

Seams like the Park Café opened at 08:30 pm.  Don't recall an afternoon opening.

[DeputyDawg46]

3 hours ago, mafig said:

How do they handle My Time Dining?

 

I have Brilliance reserved for Jan. and was just making My Time Dining Room reservations and noticed that the earliest time was 6:30.  I seem to recall something about the dining room early seating first and then the room switched over to My Time (or something like that).  

Can you fill in the details ?

 

 

I didn't do My Time Dining as I had the 05:30 pm static dining. So can't help with any advice there. But it seams like after about an hour they put people in our area where there were empty table.  The static dining was on deck 4 with vaccinated folks and the unvaccinated/mixed were on deck 5 dining.

[bjtravelnews]

On 9/8/2021 at 10:37 PM, DeputyDawg46 said:

I just finished the Serenade of the Seas out of Seattle to Alaska on 6 Sep 21.  The ship was at 36% passenger capacity was not crowded.  This was my first  cruise in 18 months.  The checking in went smooth with a Health Welfare station first and then moving on to check-in.  On ship by 10:30.  Some things I noticed as changes.

 

-  WindJammer was not open for evening meal.  Closed at 3 pm.  All food was served by a RCI server at each station.  Your SeaPass card was scanned coming in and also going out.  Major problem was that even though masks were required many people at every meal went around the WJ without one and servers/staff NEVER told them to wear one especially around the food area. Even when they were talking to staff/servers one-on-one they were not told!  I suspect most were just absent minded about it but a little reminder should have been made as some stood and talked right over the food.

-  Park Café and Starbucks was only option after MDR closed with limited food and hours.  

-  As D+ (soon Pinnacle) I was allowed 5 drinks on account/SeaPass card  per day not to exceed $13 per drink.  I do not drink alcohol so in getting soda/water I could get my five anytime during the day and anywhere with no specific time slot.  That means five for you and five for your spouse per day.

-  I didn't use the casino, spa, exercise room, or pools so can't comment on them.  However, I did see a crowded hot tub on the last night when we were closer to Seattle and it was warmer.

-  The mandatory muster drill is different and it seams like it is a requirement to have a cell phone to use their app.  You use the app and then watch a video or have a crew member that are stationed at the muster station show you how to wear the life jacket.  There was a requirement during a specified time frame for each person to at least go to the muster station to check in with a crew member.

-  As a vaccinated  passenger I had two wrist bands.  One to show I was vaccinated and another one to track my locations as I understood it.

-  In the main theater they had the vaccinated in the main and larger area on deck 5 and in the balcony on deck 6 for the unvaccinated/mixed.

-  The Theater for movies was closed.  They did have some movies in the Main Theater from time to time.

-  There is no longer a library.

-  Never saw anyone shooting pool so suspect that was closed.

-  The stools at the Sooner Bar itself on Deck 6 were off limits.  You could only sit in the cushion chairs.

-  Usually I get some chocolate covered strawberries in my room during the cruise and not sure if no longer offered or out of strawberries, but didn't get any.

-  Internet was extremely slow.

-  I thought the shows were below standard and the bands in the Centrum were poor and extremely loud.  The individuals on the solo time for piano and guitar were the exception.

-  The Meal with an Officer, which I get, used to have an officer of some sort sit at each table.  All the main officers were introduced and they all left leaving only the passengers to eat alone. They changed the name to Cheers with an Officer.

-  There were no behind the scenes in the kitchen or theater tours as well as no bridge tour.

 

The staff were always pleasant and cheerful and telling passengers how thankful they were that we were there.  A real positive atmosphere.

 

I have one or more cruises each month for the next 18 months so looking forward to seeing how things change and how the new way to cruise will become.

 

Hope this helps some who might have questions.  I'm sure there were many more changes in the areas I did not use so keep a look out for other posts that might have more data.

 

DDawg

 

 

Welcome back!  Thanks so much for your review.  Have a friend thinking about this cruise for next summer.  In your opinion, is it best to get a balcony on port side or starboard side?  TIA for your opinion!

 

[homedepot124]

We just got back from the same Serenade cruise as the original poster.

1.  I never saw any big problem about people without masks in the Windjammer.  I did see the lady scanning the cards at the entrance let one person in who was not wearing a mask one day, but that was the only time.

2.  There was plenty of food at Park Cafe and Cafe Latitudes after the Windjammer closed a 3:00PM each day.  I am sure no one went hungry.

3.  I disagree about the shows.  I thought the cruise director John Blair's tribute show to Neil Diamond was top notch.  Certainly the best show of the cruise.

4.  The RCCL singers and musicians did a cabaret show in the Centrum one night that was very good.

5.  The 'Funk It Up' band that played in the Centrum most nights after dinner was certainly not 'poor' as described by the original poster.  Lady singer, two guys on guitars, and one drummer were certainly at least average for a cruise ship group.

We thought it was a great cruise and would have certainly been happy to stay on for another week. 

[LEMJMcC]

For flying out of Seattle after an Alaskan cruise that is suppoed to dock at 7:00 AM, what would you reccomend for a flight departure time?  How far from the RCI terminal to the airport?

Thanks.

[twangster]

1 hour ago, LEMJMcC said:

For flying out of Seattle after an Alaskan cruise that is suppoed to dock at 7:00 AM, what would you reccomend for a flight departure time?  How far from the RCI terminal to the airport?

Thanks.

 

If all goes well you can get to the airport by 9:30am easily but...  many reports of terribly long security lines at SEA.  

 

The ship is sailing a long course so there is always opportunity for delays or a medical evac that can alter a 7am arrival.  I understand the desire to avoid sitting around an airport for hours but you are always much safer planning a return flight to do just that.  

[LEMJMcC]

On 9/24/2021 at 11:22 AM, twangster said:

 

If all goes well you can get to the airport by 9:30am easily but...  many reports of terribly long security lines at SEA.  

 

The ship is sailing a long course so there is always opportunity for delays or a medical evac that can alter a 7am arrival.  I understand the desire to avoid sitting around an airport for hours but you are always much safer planning a return flight to do just that.  

Thanks, I think we'll just decrease the stress and take an extra vacation day and plan a flight the day after return to port...it'd give us an extra day to check out Seattle as well, if there's really anything of interest there.

[Tree_skier]

On 9/9/2021 at 3:46 AM, Murphy said:

Thank you for sharing your experience.  Was the Schooner bar identified as a vaccinated area?  It was on our recent Freedom cruise and the barstools were accessible.  Perhaps because of the walk through layout on the Serenade they can't limit the access as easily.  Very interesting 

Schooner was not a vaccinated area.  The vaccinated areas were Safari during specific times, R Bar/Centrum, Vintages, Theatre, Casino and MDR.

[LEMJMcC]

We're trying to start planning the flights to/from Seattle for our Alaskan cruise next year.

 

From what port did your ship leave?  Is it the Carnival terminal at the Port of Seattle?  Per google maps, that's about a half an hour away from the SEA airport by rental car; is this correct?  

 

Also, what hotels would ou recommend?  We plan to arrive Saturday for a Monday sail away so that gives us a couple of days to checkout the area some; we will likely rent a car.

 

Much appreciated.

Edited September 28, 2021 by LEMJMcC

[twangster]

1 hour ago, LEMJMcC said:

We're trying to start planning the flights to/from Seattle for our Alaskan cruise next year.

 

From what port did your ship leave?  Is it the Carnival terminal at the Port of Seattle?  Per google maps, that's about a half an hour away from the SEA airport by rental car; is this correct?  

 

Also, what hotels would ou recommend?  We plan to arrive Saturday for a Monday sail away so that gives us a couple of days to checkout the area some; we will likely rent a car.

 

Much appreciated.

 

Royal uses Pier 91 at Smith Cove.  That's not a Carnival facility but owned by the Port and used by a number of cruise lines.  

 

Airport hotel to Smith Cove Pier 91 was 36 minutes on Sunday morning.

 

https://www.portseattle.org/places/smith-cove-cruise-terminal-pier-91

 

[Murphy]

16 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Schooner was not a vaccinated area.  The vaccinated areas were Safari during specific times, R Bar/Centrum, Vintages, Theatre, Casino and MDR.

Thank you for that information!   We are sailing on the Serenade in Dec and the Schooner bar is our favorite hang out.  I am hoping things change before we sail on her!

[LEMJMcC]

16 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Royal uses Pier 91 at Smith Cove.  That's not a Carnival facility but owned by the Port and used by a number of cruise lines.  

 

Airport hotel to Smith Cove Pier 91 was 36 minutes on Sunday morning.

 

https://www.portseattle.org/places/smith-cove-cruise-terminal-pier-91

 

Thanks much!  Any recommendations for a hotel that has both an airport shuttle and a Pier 91 shuttle?  I'd rather not have to return a rental car the night before leaving on the cruise, so we may have to rely on shuttles. 

 

We'd kind of like to stay at a hotel that would afford us the opportunity to walk around a bit to see Seattle.  Neither of us have ever been to that city, so are naive about whether it's a good one to walk around...any advice?

[twangster]

9 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Thanks much!  Any recommendations for a hotel that has both an airport shuttle and a Pier 91 shuttle?  I'd rather not have to return a rental car the night before leaving on the cruise, so we may have to rely on shuttles. 

 

We'd kind of like to stay at a hotel that would afford us the opportunity to walk around a bit to see Seattle.  Neither of us have ever been to that city, so are naive about whether it's a good one to walk around...any advice?

The West Coast departure board may be a better forum to ask about hotels.  Downtown hotels tend to be pricey.   

[ryano]

25 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Thanks much!  Any recommendations for a hotel that has both an airport shuttle and a Pier 91 shuttle?  I'd rather not have to return a rental car the night before leaving on the cruise, so we may have to rely on shuttles. 

 

We'd kind of like to stay at a hotel that would afford us the opportunity to walk around a bit to see Seattle.  Neither of us have ever been to that city, so are naive about whether it's a good one to walk around...any advice?  

 

I would suggest Yellow Cab Seattle.  It was cheaper than Uber and I couldnt find a downtown hotel with shuttle service. Pretty sure it was 15.00 to the port and 46.00 from the port to SEA after the cruise.    I stayed at the Warwick two weeks ago and the final bill was 202.00.  Not much different than a comparable hotel at SEA.  Really close to the needle and Pike market.  Nice place, with AC.   Every room has a view.  

 

Edited September 29, 2021 by ryano

[Tree_skier]

5 hours ago, Murphy said:

Thank you for that information!   We are sailing on the Serenade in Dec and the Schooner bar is our favorite hang out.  I am hoping things change before we sail on her!

I spent a little time in the Schooner and really it wasn't a problem.  You couldn't sit at the bar but you could stand there while they mixed your drink but even that was unnecessary.  Servers were great and as long as you were seated and had a drink in front of you no mask was required.

[Tree_skier]

On 9/10/2021 at 6:13 PM, homedepot124 said:

We just got back from the same Serenade cruise as the original poster.

1.  I never saw any big problem about people without masks in the Windjammer.  I did see the lady scanning the cards at the entrance let one person in who was not wearing a mask one day, but that was the only time.

2.  There was plenty of food at Park Cafe and Cafe Latitudes after the Windjammer closed a 3:00PM each day.  I am sure no one went hungry.

3.  I disagree about the shows.  I thought the cruise director John Blair's tribute show to Neil Diamond was top notch.  Certainly the best show of the cruise.

4.  The RCCL singers and musicians did a cabaret show in the Centrum one night that was very good.

5.  The 'Funk It Up' band that played in the Centrum most nights after dinner was certainly not 'poor' as described by the original poster.  Lady singer, two guys on guitars, and one drummer were certainly at least average for a cruise ship group.

We thought it was a great cruise and would have certainly been happy to stay on for another week. 

This was my assessment as well.  We were on the Aug 23 sailing.