Is That All There Is ?

[morpheusofthesea]

"Is that all there is
Is that all there is
If that's all there is, my friends
Then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is. "

 Got our 'negatives'... So I'm back to musing about our upcoming cruise on the beautiful Seashore. Heard Peggy Lee's rendition this morning and have had this 'earworm' all day. Been reading social media of several posters not finding the same great time aboard the Seashore that 'most' of us aficionados have come to enjoy. Perhaps it age. The world is always in turmoil. Our regrets were the cruises we cancelled because of world events frightening us. But these are posters who perhaps read our glowing reports of instant service, good food, great entertainment, no lines at any venue are missing their favorite brand of beverage and are having 'meltdowns' about the entire cruise. I fear with "age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." O. Wilde

[rkacruiser]

47 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I fear with "age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." O. Wilde

 

Yes, I have observed that.  Based on my experience with one member of my family of a younger generation, there seems to be a more prevalent prolonged period of adolescence than we in the older generations had.  The thinking is different; immediate expectations are different.  Of course, it's unwise to paint all members of the younger generations with such a wide brush.  Another member of my family has demonstrated just the opposite of his sibling.  

[no1talks]

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I fear with "age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." O. Wilde

Favorite Wilde quote:
"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

[morpheusofthesea]

On the eve of another exciting cruise vacation on board the magnificent MSC Seashore.  I am hoping I can fit all DW's suitcases into the car. She has switched out some smaller ones for larger. She has offered to sit on one for the trip to the port. She is 5 foot tall and it just might work with 'head room'.

   In our case, life has been one of delayed gratification. It is very hard to break away from successful habits, but our time has come. And these posts are my catharsis. This is all there is. This is the best life has to offer. Enjoy, dance, dress up, dance some more and have a ball.

[morpheusofthesea]

Started this morning by getting in the proper mood. Continuous loop of National Lampoons "Holiday Road". Got to port of Miami about 9:30 and pulled up to white tents. Unloaded DW's 12 suitcases and tipped the porter $50 to make sure our bags did not 'end up in the 'drink'. DW mentioned to the porter she read about those things happening to luggage on occasion. All luggage arrived at 1:30.

[no1talks]

44 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"DW mentioned to the porter she read about those things happening to luggage on occasion."

She should be more reticent when dealing with porters.

 

Especially in Miami.

 

There's a zoo there, you know.

 

Easy to "misplace" things.

 

[Nunagoras]

Many thanks to what a wonderful review is in the making!... So true all what you say. At least, we all have just one life to live and we must to live it the best possible way we can find... Have a nice day a wonderful sailing!... 🙂 🙂 🙂

[morpheusofthesea]

Below is photo of the YC section in the terminal and the refreshment table. Not quite as nice as precovid when we had sofas and cushioned chairs, sandwiches, champagne, chocolates and sometimes even live music. Buffet lunch opens at 12:30 at the one pool deck, no one there before as the attendants are helping with luggage, wheelchairs etc. Counted at least 75 B2B'ers getting back on board. Heard that there are 3200 on board of which 298 in the YC. School is out.

[morpheusofthesea]

Now this is a photo from the starboard side of the drop off points down below. On the left is general drop off and about 50 ft to the right are the tent tops for YC. By about 3 pm the 'red carpets' are rolled up and the tents removed, gangway stowed away. 'Show time'.

[morpheusofthesea]

As we leave the Port of Miami we pass the Carnival Horizon. Look closely at crowd of passengers on that ship. 'Warms the cockles of one's heart' to see so many passengers back to cruising. It must be sailing near 100% capacity. Not a free space along the railings watching us glide by. Reminded me of our trying to get a good spot on deck when traversing the Panama Canal years ago not affording a cabin with a balcony.

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is another item of interest that I posted last month and thought we were an anomaly. Again this evening our butler, Kevin requested to escort us to our table in the YC restaurant. I did not take a picture of us being escorted for fear it could be interpreted as staged. But upon leaving dinner I caught this group being escorted up the Swarovski  staircase from the Top Sail Lounge to the YC restaurant by their butler. Kevin met us at the TSL and escorted us to the Madison Theatre for the show "Beautiful". We wore masks in the theatre. Very few are wearing masks. The elevators are still pretty good at being empty and direct, but its only day one.

[morpheusofthesea]

Our Miami view from our table in the YC restaurant at noon for lunch.

[morpheusofthesea]

We had an excellent time last month on the Seashore in the YC and we were introduced to the new Head butler Larysa. Both she and Kevin said they would be on board this June so we requested of Larysa that we have Kevin assigned to us again stressing that we would be booked on the opposite side of the ship in June. Our wish was fulfilled. Did not have to remind anyone. Still learning the importance of having a butler. Have yet to meet our assistant butler/room steward to ask for extra towels, hangers, when we like our room attended to, etc. Just gave the list to Kevin, voila, all taken care of immediately.

[morpheusofthesea]

Took advantage of a Voyager Club discount on board the first evening only of every cruise, $10 off for every $50 spent in on board shops. Some caveats. First one has to ask for it, second it is just off the first $50, if one spends $100 only one $10, and can not be used at the Venchi Chocolate kiosk. 

P.S. Wait til after ship leaves Miami to save additional 7% sales tax.

[morpheusofthesea]

Another butler perk I forgot to mention happened last night when Kevin came to pick us up at the cabin to escort us to dinner. He asked what our plans for the evening. We stated that we wanted to make the show in the Madison Theatre at 7:00 pm. When we arrived for dinner Kevin left us for a moment and returned to our table to inform us that he had instructed our waiter that we were at our table and that we wanted to get to the show, that we would require faster service.  Usually on land and going out to dinner at any restaurant" I have to ask the maitre d' for a table near a waiter". On MSC YC all one needs is a good butler. But, really, it is all a group effort, working together to provide great service.

[Hobby3333]

My cruise doesn’t sail until July 9th.   I can’t thank you enough for posting your experiences.   Helps me get through the day.  LOL.   Great detail.  Love it

[morpheusofthesea]

We had a great waiter (gold tie) Narsicio last month and he is still in the YC Restaurant this cruise. We learned a lesson about a year ago on the Seaside that one can generally have both a good favorite table and great waiter, but the following cruise a month later the table is still there but the waiter is stationed across the room. On the subsequent cruise we requested our favorite table and our old waiter across the room. Our old waiter could not keep up the great service we expected that we had been accustomed to receive from him. The maitre d' understood, we tipped our old waiter $20 for his effort for the night before and were assigned the original waiters to our favorite table this cruise. The new waiters assured us they were just as competent (also gold tie). They were.

Edited June 12, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

This morning we discovered that not everything listed on the menu is always available or if still available is not exactly as enjoyable as one remembers. For example, Berliners, those 2 bite size cream filled, light and airy donut puffs, were presently not to be found. Our new waiter, Brendan, will see about them for breakfast tomorrow. The regular donuts with white frosting and chocolate sprinkles still look delicious, but tasted like a sweet bagel rather than a donut. Fortunately the pastry tray was loaded with perfect delights. One must always 'roll with the punches' when at sea.

[morpheusofthesea]

This must be a new idea, addition to, the services provided by the staff at the YC one pool deck. A refreshment trolley going door to door with complimentary drinks that did not happen last month.

[Homosassa]

15 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 

Re the sculpture to the left of the staircase: Looks like MS found a use for old toilet bowls.

[Homosassa]

On 6/9/2022 at 7:19 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Yes, I have observed that.  Based on my experience with one member of my family of a younger generation, there seems to be a more prevalent prolonged period of adolescence than we in the older generations had.  The thinking is different; immediate expectations are different.  

Perhaps a ready supply of blue ribbons with the word "Participant" in gold glitter would help the immediate expectations.

[morpheusofthesea]

Took our after lunch walkabout the ship both inside and outside on the decks. Appears to be a little more crowded but still plenty of available lounge deck chairs in the sun. Air conditioning is a bit too cool inside, bring a shawl,  coverups or something. We opted to buy  the MSC logo jackets last month experiencing the same interior low temperatures.

[morpheusofthesea]

6 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

Re the sculpture to the left of the staircase: Looks like MS found a use for old toilet bowls.

It is a late 19th and early 20th century design principle called "Form follows Function".

[morpheusofthesea]

I honestly do not see how MSC can top their Yacht Clubs with their new Explora 1.  I seriously think we are making a mistake booking Explora 1. Presently we are about 300 YC guests out of 3200 on board, receiving the best of everything on the entire ship. The best restaurant, the best service providers in the fleet, the finest chefs on board (something must have happened to the donut chef this cruise). When one walks outside the YC enclave and witnesses the stark differences....One will not have this dichotomy on Explora 1, this contrast that gives MSC the edge in suite cruising. There is a striving on the ship between the staff for available placements in the Yacht Club,  which adds to the level of superior service guests receive. How this will transfer over to an all YC ship????

[rkacruiser]

Thanks for your reports and photos.  It seems to me that the YC experience is progressing to a different level than what I experienced.  And, that progress is quite positive!