Return of the Jedi… Ovation of the Seas, Live Aug 26 - Sept 2

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

Because I’m a team player… just for @Sea Dog

 

 

 

I’d say it was a very generous pour. 

 

You are da MAN! Cheers to you and yes very generous pour!

[jmh2006]

I am also late to this party but am caught up and thoroughly enjoying!  Thanks for the entertainment @Tree_skier!

[Sea Dog]

3 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 If you enjoy Old Fashioneds, see if you can find a bar that will serve a Zacapa Old Fashioned.  It's something I became very acquainted with on our last couple of Celebrity cruises, until they ran out of Ron Zacapa due to supply chain issues.  I think you will like it. 

 

 

I've heard about this I must try!

 

[Tree_skier]

So dinner was a much improved experience over last night. The pace of service was much improved. So was the over all service. I always enjoy the Beef tenderloin they serve on formal nights and it didn’t disappoint. DW had the cod and sadly she found it quite bland. However, they quickly offered to replace it. She chose to go off menu and have a curry. She gave it two thumbs up. Dessert was crème brûlée for me and it good. DW went with the cheese cake and she was pleased. Definitely a better experience than last night. 
 

 

Hanging in the Schooner now and that classic old fashioned was calling my name. Thanks @Sea Dog

 

[Coralc]

18 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

 

I've heard about this I must try!

 

Bill really likes Zacapa. He was introduced to it on a previous cruise. No bars had it on Navigator in April. They kept saying some other bar has it. Sadly, none of them did, but we went to a lot of bars, looking, and drinking. 

[Tree_skier]

So of course since I was up at the casino and I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I had an hour to kill till DSB, the Journey Tribute Band.  You know that means I’m now down $175 with twenty minutes before the band takes the stage. LOL 😂 I’m cutting my losses and getting a good seat for the band.

[Tree_skier]

One of my favorite entertainment options when DW crashes early and I’m in my own us to sit near random people and listen to their conversation. You might find it creepy and I’m sorry but it’s absolutely hilarious. The amount of BS you hear is over whelming. Dude next to me is regaling a couple of young guys with stories  of his glory days at playing football at UO. Sometimes I just can’t help myself, I’m just a jerk. All I can smell is BS so I ask the guy how he liked living in Lincoln.
 

So he replies “oh wow Lincoln is awesome. Total party town!” and starts telling stories about life in Lincoln. 
 

I let him go in for about 5 minutes until I broke it to his new friends that Lincoln I in Nebraska. 

[Tree_skier]

DSB is fantastic!

 

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

5 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

DSB is fantastic!

 

 

IMG_2150.MOV 26.46 MB · 2 downloads  

 

Looks like a great show and it looks like you and I were sitting in the same area

[Sea Dog]

8 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

 

Hanging in the Schooner now and that classic old fashioned was calling my name. Thanks @Sea Dog

 

 

For a twist ask them to make my "Sea Dog Old Fashioned."

 

Bourbon 1 oz

Rye 1oz

Meletti Amaro 1/2 oz

(Note: They may not have Amaro on the ship but you can substitute. The best substitutes for amaro are Gammel Dansk, Chartreuse, Bonal, and Cynar 70.)

Orange Oleo Saccharum Syrup 1/2oz

(Note: You can substitute with simple syrup or Demerara syrup)

2 dashes Angostura bitters 

[bobmacliberty]

6 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

DSB is fantastic!

 

 

IMG_2150.MOV 26.46 MB · 5 downloads  

 

 

How was the sound level?  Royal usually has the volume cranked so high that Micheline can't sit through many of the shows.  Her ears actually hurt.

[bobmacliberty]

2 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

 

For a twist ask them to make my "Sea Dog Old Fashioned."

 

Bourbon 1 oz

Rye 1oz

Meletti Amaro 1/2 oz

(Note: They may not have Amaro on the ship but you can substitute. The best substitutes for amaro are Gammel Dansk, Chartreuse, Bonal, and Cynar 70.)

Orange Oleo Saccharum Syrup 1/2oz

(Note: You can substitute with simple syrup or Demerara syrup)

2 dashes Angostura bitters 

 

I definitely recommend one (or more) of Sea Dog's Old Fashioneds.  It has become my favorite before dinner cocktail at home.  I couldn't find the Orange Olea Syrup near me so I use standard simple syrup and Angostura orange bitters instead.

[Sea Dog]

15 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I definitely recommend one (or more) of Sea Dog's Old Fashioneds.  It has become my favorite before dinner cocktail at home.  I couldn't find the Orange Olea Syrup near me so I use standard simple syrup and Angostura orange bitters instead.

 

That is a very good substitute.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

How was the sound level?  Royal usually has the volume cranked so high that Micheline can't sit through many of the shows.  Her ears actually hurt.

It was definitely loud the week I was on.

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

How was the sound level?  Royal usually has the volume cranked so high that Micheline can't sit through many of the shows.  Her ears actually hurt.

The sound level was good for me but I like it loud so I won’t be a good judge for you. 

[Momof3gurlz]

8 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

One of my favorite entertainment options when DW crashes early and I’m in my own us to sit near random people and listen to their conversation. You might find it creepy and I’m sorry but it’s absolutely hilarious. The amount of BS you hear is over whelming. Dude next to me is regaling a couple of young guys with stories  of his glory days at playing football at UO. Sometimes I just can’t help myself, I’m just a jerk. All I can smell is BS so I ask the guy how he liked living in Lincoln.
 

So he replies “oh wow Lincoln is awesome. Total party town!” and starts telling stories about life in Lincoln. 
 

I let him go in for about 5 minutes until I broke it to his new friends that Lincoln I in Nebraska. 

I don’t find it creepy at all.  We love doing this and the type of people we’re usually listening to don’t require eavesdropping; they’re typically talking loudly so as to be heard by anyone& everyone around them.  We call it “broadcasting”, like they want to be sure everyone around them is as impressed as they are with themselves.  I especially love when you absolutely know something they say is BS.  Good for you for calling it out! 

[jdenver13]

Great thread @Tree_skier following with interest as we board on the 2nd September. Flying out from the UK the day before and staying at the Hyatt Regency Seattle overnight. The count down is on. 

[Tree_skier]

Good morning.

 

So the staffing issues are manifesting themselves the most in the morning.  I should have been up earlier but I stayed up pretty late.  At 8am, when I arrived at the Windjammer, the line was stretched all the way back through the elevator corridor to the glass doors leading to the pool area. No problem I thought, I’ll just shoot down to MDR for breakfast.  Same line, different location.  So back up I go and head to the Solarium for breakfast.  Much shorter line and they have all my favorite breakfast items except the omelette station.  

 

Yesterday the Windjammer looked the same.  I never checked the Solarium or the MDR and we just went to Cafe 270.

 

The line for the Solarium has grown since eating my breakfast and is now running out the door.  This is a real issue for Royal and they need to aggressively attack this problem.  I know they can’t snap their fingers and magically create workers but something has to be done.  

 

 

We are absolutely socked in this morning in Sitka.  Heavy fog and rain so far.  Hopefully it clears up or I’ll just be staying on the ship. I’ve got a haircut scheduled for 330 in the spa today.  That is the only thing on the agenda so far.

Edited August 28, 2022 by Tree_skier

[Tree_skier]

Fog has gotten a little better and it’s only light rain now. Hopefully it continues to improve. 
 

[Bxc53]

41 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Good morning.

 

So the staffing issues are manifesting themselves the most in the morning.  I should have been up earlier but I stayed up pretty late.  At 8am, when I arrived at the Windjammer, the line was stretched all the way back through the elevator corridor to the glass doors leading to the pool area. No problem I thought, I’ll just shoot down to MDR for breakfast.  Same line, different location.  So back up I go and head to the Solarium for breakfast.  Much shorter line and they have all my favorite breakfast items except the omelette station.  

 

Yesterday the Windjammer looked the same.  I never checked the Solarium or the MDR and we just went to Cafe 270.

 

The line for the Solarium has grown since eating my breakfast and is now running out the door.  This is a real issue for Royal and they need to aggressively attack this problem.  I know they can’t snap their fingers and magically create workers but something has to be done.  

 

 

We are absolutely socked in this morning in Sitka.  Heavy fog and rain so far.  Hopefully it clears up or I’ll just be staying on the ship. I’ve got a haircut scheduled for 330 in the spa today.  That is the only thing on the agenda so far.

We are on the Quantum in a few weeks . Curious where the choke point is for the dining options? In our past cruises ( well pre Covid) it was table / chair space. Are they slow to clear tables or ?. 
 

Thanks 

[Tree_skier]

The worst if it seems to be for MTD without reservation. The lines have looked ling. I can’t say why the hold up is in the Windjammer. I haven’t gotten in yet because of the lines. If I do I’ll update you. 

[Tree_skier]

I have found the official souvenir shirt for this thread. 

[Tree_skier]

 

 

[TravelGirlinDallas]

7 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

At 8am, when I arrived at the Windjammer, the line was stretched all the way back through the elevator corridor to the glass doors leading to the pool area.

This happened to us on Ovation,too. We were told it was because there wasn’t enough open seating left. The washy guy would wait for several people to leave before letting new people in. They also frequently broadcast a recorded message basically telling people not to linger, but to eat and move on so others could have seats.

[Tree_skier]

So today was quiet day. We did a little shopping and then came back to the ship for lunch. As we came back the sun broke out so after lunch I decided to enjoy some sun on the top deck… I fell asleep.  
 

Unfortunately, what woke me up was the rain LOL

 

I quickly gathered my stuff up and head back into the ship. 
 

I had a quick shower and then head up to the spa to get my haircut.   

Tonight is Chops and and maybe the juggler. Maybe the casino. We’ll see what unfolds.