Quantum of the Seas Alaksa 8/29 - 9/5; 9/5-9/12 Live Review

[DaKahuna]

Received this in our room this morning.  Not sure if we are going to do this instead of CK for dinner tonight.

[gloriason]

DaKahuna, that is an interesting letter you received asking you and your wife to go to the Solarium Bistro for dinner tonight.  Strangely, the Solarium Bistro is no longer appearing on the Royal app for the week of my cruise, September 5-12.  I would be interested in your impression of the Solarium Bistro if you and your wife decide to go.  Enjoy your day.

[DaKahuna]

On 8/30/2022 at 9:04 AM, CanuckCruizer said:

We also have a Grand Suite on an upcoming cruise and after seeing your pictures, are a bit concerned.  What happened to the dining table on your balcony?  There isn't one!  We always have room service breakfast on the balcony and this would be a huge disappointment.  Every other video & pics I have seen of the Grand Suite on this ship, have had dining tables on the balconies. Are you able to ask your cabin steward to get you a table?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you also for providing info on the entertainers.  So many people do reviews and never comment on the various musicians around the ship.  We love all the nightly entertainment in the various bars, rather than seeing the shows in the theatre etc.

 

Love all the info on the Coastal Kitchen and Suite Lounge as well, as not too much has been posted previously.

 

Hope you are enjoying your day onboard.😎

 

Cheers,

Canuck

 

I think  I have solved the table on the balcony question.

 

Here is a picture of the starboard side.  We are on deck 9 and have two small sized tables.  
you can see larger tables on the balcony of higher decks.

 

 

[DaKahuna]

13 minutes ago, gloriason said:

DaKahuna, that is an interesting letter you received asking you and your wife to go to the Solarium Bistro for dinner tonight.  Strangely, the Solarium Bistro is no longer appearing on the Royal app for the week of my cruise, September 5-12.  I would be interested in your impression of the Solarium Bistro if you and your wife decide to go.  Enjoy your day.

We had not planned on going at to the Solarium since the offering was for the buffet only and other reviews we have seen is the food is the same as offered in the Windjammer, just a smaller selection.

 

I will see what I can find out about whether it will be open next week or not.  Have not seen/heard anything about it being closed.

 

[DaKahuna]

We did the Lumberjack show in Ketchikan today. We did not stay for the Ax throw. 

 

 

 

 

 

[CanuckCruizer]

35 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

I think  I have solved the table on the balcony question.

 

Here is a picture of the starboard side.  We are on deck 9 and have two small sized tables.  
you can see larger tables on the balcony of higher decks.

 

 

DaKahuna - thanks for taking the balcony pics.  Wow - so it does appear that the Grand Suites on the lower decks do not have a dining table - bizarre!  Luckily, we are on Deck 11, so unless someone moves it - I think we will have one.

 

That invitation (& upcharge) for the Solarium Bistro is also very strange.  And, the Solarium Bistro is no longer showing on the App for our upcoming cruise.  I wonder if they are using it for "overflow" of the Coastal Kitchen - maybe the Coastal Kitchen is over crowded and they are trying to make a special place for suite guests (& that is why it is not available to see on the App)?  But, to say that the whole experience is "not" complimentary is again, bizarre. 

 

Let us know if you find out what is going on.

 

Cheers,

Canuck 

[librarylady19]

I made a reservation for Solarium bistro - before it disappeared from the app - and it’s showing on my calendar. We’ll see…..

[DaKahuna]

49 minutes ago, CanuckCruizer said:

DaKahuna - thanks for taking the balcony pics.  Wow - so it does appear that the Grand Suites on the lower decks do not have a dining table - bizarre!  Luckily, we are on Deck 11, so unless someone moves it - I think we will have one.

 

That invitation (& upcharge) for the Solarium Bistro is also very strange.  And, the Solarium Bistro is no longer showing on the App for our upcoming cruise.  I wonder if they are using it for "overflow" of the Coastal Kitchen - maybe the Coastal Kitchen is over crowded and they are trying to make a special place for suite guests (& that is why it is not available to see on the App)?  But, to say that the whole experience is "not" complimentary is again, bizarre. 

 

Let us know if you find out what is going on.

If my count is right, I believe deck 11 would be the 6th deck above the lifeboats which has a high table showing. 
 

 I would be very surprised if it were overflow for Coastal Kitchen.  CK has not been anywhere near full so far this cruise. 
 

[late2cruisin]

We are on next week's Quantum cruise. I was planning on reserving at least one dinner at the Solarium Bistro, so I will be very disappointed if indeed it has been removed as an option for us. We ate at the Solarium Bistro on Anthem and on Ovation and it was a nice change. The lunch buffet (no reservations) is just a MUCH smaller version of what is available in the Windjammer. The dinner is completely different. There's a buffet of appetizers (like hummus, baba ganoush, and other middle eastern specialties.) Then you order from a limited number of main dishes (including lamb, my favorite). For dessert, there's a buffet of items including baklava.  I hope someone will let us know if they open it up again to the rest of us (non-suite) guests.

[CTSandy]

We were in a Jr. Suite on Quantum for the August 8 sailing.  We also received the invitation for the Solarium dinner and we chose not to go.  The Coastal Kitchen was not that crowded during our sailing so we were able to dine there each night.  Service and food was very good.  Just came back from Explorer this week and dined in the MDR - you can really appreciate Coastal Kitchen after dining in the MDR!

[DaKahuna]

@late2cruisin  The Solarium Bistro will be open next sailing.  No idea why it is not showing on the app or why the menu is not showing but Romana, the Suite Concierge, verified with the Solarium Manager they will be open.  Reservations are required so if the App does not get fixed, you may want to make your reservation once onboard. 
 

[CanuckCruizer]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

If my count is right, I believe deck 11 would be the 6th deck above the lifeboats which has a high table showing. 
 

 I would be very surprised if it were overflow for Coastal Kitchen.  CK has not been anywhere near full so far this cruise. 
 

Yes - I thought Deck 11 showed a proper dining table in the pic you posted.  Hard to understand why only certain decks seem to have one and a lot of people might be very disappointed when they find out.  We are sailing to Hawaii and want to enjoy breakfast and maybe even dinner on our balcony.

 

Well, if the Coastal Kitchen is not that busy, then maybe my guess is not correct.  I was under the impression that the Solarium Bistro (called "Devinly Decadence" (sic) when the ship was sailing out of Asia - from what I understood, it was used as some kind of suite Gold something club doing those sailings and pictures of this area are on another site which I don't think I can name...).  I have never sailed on the Quantum, so I am only looking at other passengers' pictures.

 

In any event, I thought the invitation you received was very weird.  Seems like they are encouraging people to leave Coastal Kitchen and then pay for extra food.

 

Hope you are having a nice evening onboard.

 

Canuck

[librarylady19]

27 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@late2cruisin  The Solarium Bistro will be open next sailing.  No idea why it is not showing on the app or why the menu is not showing but Romana, the Suite Concierge, verified with the Solarium Manager they will be open.  Reservations are required so if the App does not get fixed, you may want to make your reservation once onboard. 
 

Thanks for checking! We are looking forward to trying it. Mixing it up with specialties and dining off ship as we aren’t big fans of MDR food after our last experience on Vision. 

[CanuckCruizer]

27 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@late2cruisin  The Solarium Bistro will be open next sailing.  No idea why it is not showing on the app or why the menu is not showing but Romana, the Suite Concierge, verified with the Solarium Manager they will be open.  Reservations are required so if the App does not get fixed, you may want to make your reservation once onboard. 
 

Hi DaKahuna - thanks for your detective work.  Yes - Solarium Bistro has disappeared from the App for our sailing.  We had Romina on a previous sailing and she was wonderful (if it is the same person).

 

That is very good news that Coastal Kitchen is not too crowded, as we were wondering about that.

 

Canuck

 

 

[librarylady19]

Solarium is back in the app for the 9/5 sailing !

[DaKahuna]

24 minutes ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Hi DaKahuna - thanks for your detective work.  Yes - Solarium Bistro has disappeared from the App for our sailing.  We had Romina on a previous sailing and she was wonderful (if it is the same person).

 

That is very good news that Coastal Kitchen is not too crowded, as we were wondering about that.

 

Canuck

 

 

Romana is a very nice you g lady from mainland China.  She is very personable and goes over and beyond. 
 

Tonight is the busiest we have seen the CK and it’s only half filled.  My wife and I are not real big Specialty restaurant users but I am trying to pick a night to try Jamies as we both like Italian food.

 

I am also going to make. Reservation either this cruise or next for Izumi.  I love Japanese food, especially sushi and sashimi.

 

 

[CanuckCruizer]

4 minutes ago, librarylady19 said:

Solarium is back in the app for the 9/5 sailing !

librarylady19 - just checked the App and it is back for our sailing too.  And it says "complimentary".

 

Canuck

[CanuckCruizer]

1 minute ago, DaKahuna said:

Romana is a very nice you g lady from mainland China.  She is very personable and goes over and beyond. 
 

Tonight is the busiest we have seen the CK and it’s only half filled.  My wife and I are not real big Specialty restaurant users but I am trying to pick a night to try Jamies as we both like Italian food.

 

I am also going to make. Reservation either this cruise or next for Izumi.  I love Japanese food, especially sushi and sashimi.

 

 

Hi - oh, that is a different Concierge than we had but very similar name.  That is good that you find her to be great.

 

We are looking forward to trying Jamie's as well as the pictures of the food they are serving look very good.

 

Do you know who the Hotel Director is or did you get the paper that lists all the Officers?

 

Canuck

[DaKahuna]

53 minutes ago, CanuckCruizer said:

 

Do you know who the Hotel Director is or did you get the paper that lists all the Officers?

 

Canuck

i saw a print out near guest services but did not take a copy so I am not sure who the hotel director is for this cruise.  His name was mention at the top tier event but I seldom pay attention as i can never recall interacting with senior officers on Royal Caribbean.

 

If you really need to know I will get his name for you.

 

[DaKahuna]

Wonderful dinner again in CK tonight.  I am quickly being spoiled by Michael, our waiter, and Margarette (sp) the assistant Maitre’d.

 

Food Porn follows:

French Onion Soup - my wife loves it

Scallop Carpaccio - very light

Oven-roasted Cod — notice same dish but I asked for rice with mine

Ivory Mousse 

Chocolate brownie with chicolate icre cream and chocolate sauce - an off menu item Michael offered me - delicious

 

 

[DaKahuna]

Dropped by the Suite Lounge post dinner to see if Romana could make some reservations for us. 
 

She was able to get us dinner at Jamie’s for day 5 and lunch at Izumi on day 7.   Based on how tjose go we will schedule resevations for next week.

 

While in the lounge we decided to relax and watch the wake .. Tanqueray & Cranberry for the wife, LIT for me.

 

[DaKahuna]

Spent a little time in the casino tonight.  Found the LIT’s to be a little on the weak side, but maybe that was hood.  Anyway, after two hours. One weak LIT, and two diet cokes, I cashed out and took my $60 winnings back to the room with me. 
 

of course to get from the casino to my room required a stop in the Schooner Bar to use my last coupon on a Rum Old Fashioned, made with Bacardi 8, to go.  Which I am now enjoying while reading cruise critic. 
 

Tomorrow is Sitka and the weather forecast is for rain all day.  No plans so we will see how it goes. 
 

Good night! 
 

 

[davwen81]

12 hours ago, gloriason said:

DaKahuna, that is an interesting letter you received asking you and your wife to go to the Solarium Bistro for dinner tonight.  Strangely, the Solarium Bistro is no longer appearing on the Royal app for the week of my cruise, September 5-12.  I would be interested in your impression of the Solarium Bistro if you and your wife decide to go.  Enjoy your day.

Yes, I agree, it’s not showing up for our cruise next year and wondered why. Shows on the deck map though. 

[gloriason]

2 hours ago, davwen81 said:

Yes, I agree, it’s not showing up for our cruise next year and wondered why. Shows on the deck map though. 

Solarium Bistro has reappeared on the Royal app for our cruise on Quantum September 5-12.  I guess it could just be a glitch in their programming?

[librarylady19]

On 8/31/2022 at 8:07 AM, Tulsacoker said:

nice we pre ordered the same Evian water.... 

heads up for those on 9/5 sailing - price of “Evian” package dropped to $26 - so I cancelled and rebooked. That’s enough savings for an alcoholic beverage 😀