Observations from the Poop Deck Seashore September

[morpheusofthesea]

[morpheusofthesea]

The up load worked on this 21 second video proceeding post, taken from our cabin on deck 16 Seashore Terminal C. Notice the bus. This bus driver knew the 'trick' on how to get into the proper drop off for the YC tents. Though he drives right by the tents going further down he uses the right lane and bypasses the orange cones and snarled traffic on the west side of the swale where all the other passengers are dropping off and picking up luggage.

[morpheusofthesea]

Things are changing on the Seashore. I suppose it is to 'acclimatize' the remaining staff to the repositioning. The department heads are changing or have already changed. Old staff have left and new staff are trained to different job descriptions. For example, the later hour dinners at the restaurants. This is all to 'tailor' the ship to its new Brazilian itinerary. The more 'Latin' guests prefer to eat later and stay up longer partying (til 6am) and sleep to noon.

[tcruisin77]

Is Brendo still a waiter in the YC?  He was my 7 year old’s favorite part of the trip!  Her annual back in school ”What I Did on Summer Vacation” writing piece was all about him, their special handshake and his magic tricks. Forget the pool, the gelato, or water slides, it was all about her “best friend Brendo”!  

[morpheusofthesea]

There are so many great waiters that make it to the Yacht Club restaurant. Have not seen Brendo this cruise. He probably is just one of many that are gone to start the Seascape. Had him one cruise. 

[rkacruiser]

The driving situation in the Port of Miami is ridiculous.  If I ever sail from Miami again, I will never drive to the Port.  Poor signage, poor traffic patterns, congestion that only encourages fender benders.  Too much traffic for too little land area.  

[morpheusofthesea]

The entertainment in Le Cabaret Rouge this week appears to be a band called Off the Record On the Rocks; A guitarist, a base guitarist, keyboardist, drummer and female vocalist. Playing 2 shows each evening for four different performances. Imagine the remaining 3 evenings are no show in the LCR.The Brooklyn Cafe still has the great Jazz quartet with Bruno Vincenza ( who does a fabulous tribute show to Frank Sinatra) and a very talented duo, guitarist and female vocalist. 

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"...a band called Off the Record On the Rocks."

This band was great on Mera in Feb. Each show was a differently-themed set list: Ladies of Rock, Divas of Disco, that sort of thing. Hopefully, they are still doing that format.

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Reports of Diamond Club cut backs on Seashore are not warranted. At least not tonight.

[kwokpot]

7 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Reports of Diamond Club cut backs on Seashore are not warranted. At least not tonight.

Are the chocolate ships still hard as a rock? I've sailed on one previous MSC ship and with status match received the diamond benefits. I remember the chocolate ship being so hard you couldn't even bite it and it was useless. 

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Are the chocolate ships still hard as a rock? I've sailed on one previous MSC ship and with status match received the diamond benefits. I remember the chocolate ship being so hard you couldn't even bite it and it was useless. 

We have yet to taste one. All the liquor, chocolate ships, Venchi pillow chocolate and Venchi boxed chocolate gifts from our trips are re-gifted to our neighbor, travel agent, and accountant. All three of which reported how sweet and delicious were the boats. TA mentioned she loved to melt the boats down and use it on ice cream, etc. Have noticed that one should not wait too long to give them away as they start to turn white in two weeks which I read is still okay to eat though not as appetizing to look at. And of course they all may be lying to us about how good the boats really are that is why we gift a bottle of spirits with the boat.

[mafig]

9 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Are the chocolate ships still hard as a rock? I've sailed on one previous MSC ship and with status match received the diamond benefits. I remember the chocolate ship being so hard you couldn't even bite it and it was useless. 

I ate mine....it was delicious.

DH also ate and enjoyed his.👍

[morpheusofthesea]

35 minutes ago, mafig said:

I ate mine....it was delicious.

DH also ate and enjoyed his.👍

So happy to hear this. More confident about my gifting good products. Funny about these reports of being inedible. Could MSC's affiliation with LEGO have any connection?

[morpheusofthesea]

When one is on a cruise one discovers little trifles. While walking off breakfast out on deck 8 this morning we noticed that the starboard side of the ship was shady and no sea birds. While on the port and sunny side were 7 such birds nearer the bow of the ship and dive bombing into the water. Guess the ship's wake disturbs some fish swimming close to the surface and the sun helps reflect their presence ?

[morpheusofthesea]

Took a walk through the Market Place buffet at 7 am just to look and get hungry before breakfast at the YC restaurant at 7:30. I recall a post panning (severely criticizing) a waiter in the MDR for not bringing her child a requested banana on the Mera. (Erin1012). Perhaps because all the bananas are located in the buffet?

[morpheusofthesea]

"Times, they are a changing."

[Seadweller001]

We melt our choc ships down, takes minutes in the pan.  Smooth the melted dark choc out on wax paper, add roasted almonds and cool.  Cut up into bars.  Amazing dark chocolate snacks.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Seadweller001

[morpheusofthesea]

Had to find another route this afternoon for our walkabout after lunch. Effy was having a raffle of sorts and one has to be present to win. We were not going to subject ourselves to 'who knows what'?

[morpheusofthesea]

We hear about these things, but never actually witnessed this until today. We had just finished our fish and chips lunch in the YC restaurant and as we were walking down the crystal staircase, ever so slowly, to the TSL Two ladies seated at a table (they must have slipped past the hostess seating other guests) wearing bathing suits and coverups were asked to leave and change into proper attire. They were told that they could eat in bathing attire at the One Pool Buffet but not in the YC restaurant. They got up and left. We did as well.

Edited September 5, 2022 by morpheusofthesea
ever so slowly

[morpheusofthesea]

Today is Monday and we should be arriving to Puerto Rico (5pm) and we went to guest services deck 5 to get a NON YC Daily Planner so as not to miss out on any of the 'happenings' not advertised in the YC Daily Planner. Be sure to use the Voyager Club line, it is shorter. First we wanted to see if there was going to be a Free Specialty Restaurant tasting tour. No. It appears the ever present, Specialty Restaurant manager, Mustafa, is missing as is his second in command, Valentina. Next, we had been on board in the summer months when there was a special kids dessert buffet set up around the Jungle Pool. There were great desserts we have never seen before, like chocolate popcorn and every cake and cookie in the world ! Alas, no more. The Market Place buffet usually closes down at 9pm but because passengers will be coming back late this evening from tours, etc. the MB will be open 10 to 11:30 pm for late snacks (will definitely have to check MB out tonight). The crew have been allowed finally to go ashore in these ports once again.

[morpheusofthesea]

Something else which we are not acquainted with that we see listed in the hours of operation tonight. The MSC casino slot machines and gaming tables will be open 30 minutes after sailing away from PR with NO closing hours posted. But that could be standard operating procedure every night when at sea.

[betsypv]

18 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Reports of Diamond Club cut backs on Seashore are not warranted. At least not tonight.

Would love to know more - I am Diamond Club due to status match and this is first MSC cruise - is there a special area of embarkation that offers shorter lines? is this picture from a lounge or something similar onboard? thank you. 

[travelwide]

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We hear about these things, but never actually witnessed this until today. We had just finished our fish and chips lunch in the YC restaurant and as we were walking down the crystal staircase, ever so slowly, to the TSL Two ladies seated at a table (they must have slipped past the hostess seating other guests) wearing bathing suits and coverups were asked to leave and change into proper attire. They were told that they could eat in bathing attire at the One Pool Buffet but not in the YC restaurant. They got up and left. We did as well.

Very, very happy to see that they are enforcing the rules.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, betsypv said:

Would love to know more - I am Diamond Club due to status match and this is first MSC cruise - is there a special area of embarkation that offers shorter lines? is this picture from a lounge or something similar onboard? thank you. 

This photo is how we requested the types of water be in our cabin when we got on board. It is a photo of our cabin countertop. We only cruise MSC in the Yacht Club which has a priority desk under a tent in the very front of the terminal. When the terminal opens in the morning any YC guests are immediately escorted in before anyone else. Separate security line and check in, separate waiting area. Then we all wait til the ship clears and YC is escorted on by butlers before anyone else to ready cabins. 

[happy cruzin]

On 9/3/2022 at 5:32 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

Got on board at 11:38. Cleared at 11:30. B2Bs are first to board then YC behind them. Lunch in the YC restaurant at 12. New chef in the YC restaurant. Chef Lisa left yesterday and is going to be the executive YC chef on the new Seascape. First question DW had when she heard this news, will I still be able to get my meringues ? "Absolutely" was our waiter's reply. Ahh, its nice to be home again.

  The YC cabins were ready when we boarded. An announcement over the PA said that other cabins were not ready yet. At 2 pm an announcement that the other cabins were now ready. We got all DW luggage at 1 pm.

  Did not get an email asking any preferences like pillows, etc. 

Any issues boarding with the new revised Heath and Safety Plan that went in to effect 9/1??