Semi-Live - Discovery - CA Coastal - Oct 1, 2022

[cruzin4us]

Standing midship on deck 9 looking aft and forward.  It’s a long way no matter which way you choose to go.   Choosing aft I walked by the laundry room and it was like a sauna inside.  My lens fogged up so I had to go out and come back in quickly just to get a photo. 

[cruzin4us]

Some casino photos - deck 6 forward 

Sushi Bar -deck 6 midship 

Piazza - midship 

[cruzin4us]

Elevators are crammed in like sardines.  Sometimes you have to jump on and go down before you go up and vice versa.  Elevators going to deck 16 (buffet) in the morning are always full.  

[sunsetme]

Is there still a quarantine deck?

[HBCcruiser]

@cruzin4us How is the wine supply? Are you hearing any complaints regarding the ship NOT having certain wines available? We are getting onboard November 5th and I want to make sure they have the Premier wines. If not, I am bringing them onboard. On other Princess threads, ships are running short of many brands. Thanks for the LIVE BTW! 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

8 hours ago, cruzin4us said:

The IC no longer will be having the small salads.  They have a multitude of sandwiches and some desserts.  I was informed of this yesterday.   Not sure about other shops, but that’s the case with the Discovery. 

I can’t wait to see what they are serving now.  I’m sorry that people are losing their salads but I am hopeful that I will be able to eat something now. Oh happy day!  Thank you so much @cruzin4us!  Enjoy the rest of your time on the Discovery Princess!  

[ebeluga]

@cruzin4usThanks for the live form.  At your leisure, would you mind finding out the pax load for the next sailing on 10/15?  Thx so much!

[3dispatch3]

Thanks for your dedication in keeping this journal going. Much appreciate all your updates especially on the Mexican part of the trip as we are on a 7 day, return LA at the end of November.

 

We have an internet package for the trip but it sounds like it is not the best anyhow.

 

Enjoy the balance of your trip(S) and I look forward to reading your updates.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

1 hour ago, 3dispatch3 said:

Thanks for your dedication in keeping this journal going. Much appreciate all your updates especially on the Mexican part of the trip as we are on a 7 day, return LA at the end of November.

 

We have an internet package for the trip but it sounds like it is not the best anyhow.

 

Enjoy the balance of your trip(S) and I look forward to reading your updates.

I have never had a problem with the internet while in the Mexican Rivera so hopefully it will be fine for you.  

[chubbypiggy]

On 10/12/2022 at 8:15 AM, cruzin4us said:

One of my favorite things about cruising is meeting new people.   I’ve been fortunate to meet some awesome people and have exchanged many laughs.  I’ve had no problem cruising as a solo and it’s easy to fit right in.  I met a wonderful woman yesterday that is 86 and is traveling solo.  She has more energy than most people half her age.   I want to be just like her when I’m 86.  
 

I’m off to wander around the ship and take some pics now that the masses have gotten off.  

Thanks for the nice reviews.  When will your cruise end?  Will you still be on the 10/29 cruise?

[judyjudy56]

I am really enjoying your live thread. We will be on her December 17th. Burning up the last of our Covid credits. I saw on the deck plans that there is a pastry shop near the buffet. Have you been? Looking forward the be on a new Princess ship. 

[Kay S]

Not happy about the elevators...  Interesting about the salads at IC.  I wonder if that's just this ship or fleet-wide.  Again, thanks so much for doing this.

[Ombud]

On 10/12/2022 at 10:28 AM, cruzin4us said:

Elevators are crammed in like sardines.  Sometimes you have to jump on and go down before you go up and vice versa.  Elevators going to deck 16 (buffet) in the morning are always full.  

I had the issue with 8/30-9/17 voyage. At least exclusively using the stairs helped me avoid gaining too much

[cruzin4us]

Well, I had no internet from Puerto Vallarta back to LA so I couldn't do any posting.   

 

The best change came last night at 12:01 a.m. when I finally got to see some smiling faces when all the crew took off their masks.   It almost made me teary-eyed seeing the gleam in their eyes and their big grins.   It's amazing how us passengers that choose to can run around without a mask and we forget how hard it's been for them the past 1.5 years.     It really made my cruise when I got to see their joy.   It was almost like letting a caged animal out to be free and they are afraid to leave their cages.   They were timid, and once the masks came off their grins were from ear to ear.

 

Anyway, back to business:   Today the Discovery is back in LA and will set sail for the California Coastal cruise at 4:00 pm.  It's a Love Boat themed cruise and I'm not sure what all that entails, but I'll report back if I get any wi-fi.

 

The past 2 cruises were night and day from each other.   This past week the crowd was much rowdier and angrier for some reason.   Still can't put my finger on why.   I'm thinking it had to do more with the fact that the ship was completely full (or close to it) and the staff ratio was still the same.   Thus, service was slower everywhere in general....from the dining room to bar service.   There was a longer wait for elevators as well.   If ya can't pack your patience, then this is not the time to be cruising.  Hopefully, now that people can see the crew's faces it will help.   Sometimes it's so loud, you can't hear across the bar when ordering a drink so there is frustration on both sides.

 

The movies on TV have not changed since I cruised back in October 2021, so I'm watching reruns of the old Love Boat.   I've actually been quite entertained...LOL

 

The casino:   Oh my gosh, it's packed every time it's opened.   Haven't had one ounce of luck but I saw others who did.   I couldn't hit anything on any machine, and it wasn't a lack of trying.   

 

Ah, I forgot to take pictures of the sushi I ate yesterday (surcharge).   I'll go back again, as it was pretty darn good....much better than I thought it be.   Hours are kind of funky and they are closed from 1:45 to 5:30 which is a bummer because the place was always full.   Rolls were about $3.50 and sashimi (9 pcs) was around $8 and sushi was $7 for 10 pcs I believe (don't quote me on the prices as I'm remembering off the top of my head).   The sushi rice was soft and the fish was a good size slice.

 

Well, I better go check into my muster station.   I need to do this because I changed rooms, had I stayed in the same room I wouldn't have to.

 

 

 

[LACruiser88]

Thank you for the update.  I hope the next segment has a calmer crowd and internet service! 

 

We'll be onboard the Discovery for the first time on Dec 28th for a 10 day Mexico voyage.

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by LACruiser88

[HBCcruiser]

19 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

Well, I had no internet from Puerto Vallarta back to LA so I couldn't do any posting.   

 

  Hours are kind of funky and they are closed from 1:45 to 5:30 which is a bummer because the place was always full.   Rolls were about $3.50 and sashimi (9 pcs) was around $8 and sushi was $7 for 10 pcs I believe (don't quote me on the prices as I'm remembering off the top of my head).   The sushi rice was soft and the fish was a good size slice.

 

 

 

 

NCL and Princess need to get their act together regarding internet service. RCCL was smart to go with Starlink. 
 

Sushi - I assume this is just a bar so no table reservations accepted, correct? 

[roxievegas]

19 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

NCL and Princess need to get their act together regarding internet service. RCCL was smart to go with Starlink. 
 

Sushi - I assume this is just a bar so no table reservations accepted, correct? 

no reservations.  You sit at the bar or they have about 6 -  7 small tables.  The food is really good.  Our last time on Discovery we ate there 3 or 4 times.  Sea days they open for lunch.  Port days they didn't open until 5:00p - well worth the charge - you watch the sushi chef make your food in front of you if you are sitting at the bar.

[FAMILYCRUISEMAN]

Please tell us the procedure for boarding the ship. Did you check in at the cruise terminal at birth 93 and 92 and then get shadow to Pier 46? Please answer back. Family cruise man

[Kay S]

1 hour ago, FAMILYCRUISEMAN said:

Please tell us the procedure for boarding the ship. Did you check in at the cruise terminal at birth 93 and 92 and then get shadow to Pier 46? Please answer back. Family cruise man

If you have been informed that you embark from that pier, there will be signs at the entrance to the port telling you where to go.  

[anjiedupree]

On 10/13/2022 at 12:21 PM, judyjudy56 said:

I am really enjoying your live thread. We will be on her December 17th. Burning up the last of our Covid credits. I saw on the deck plans that there is a pastry shop near the buffet. Have you been? Looking forward the be on a new Princess ship. 

Hi. I was on 10/1/22 7 day CA Coast cruise on Discovery. The pastry shop is right in the ‘middle’ of the buffet sections. I found the buffet layout unnecessarily confusing and spread out. There are 4 main areas, but after a few visits I adjusted. The pastry shop also has the specialty Coffee Shop. Nice breakfast items, Belgian waffles, crepes, usual danishes,etc. I was disappointed in the cookies. The peanut butter cookies were not good at all. They were my favorite in prior cruises. I also noticed there were sections for gluten and sugar free confections too. Enjoy!

Edited October 16, 2022 by anjiedupree
Typo

[judyjudy56]

We were just on the Ruby and the peanut butter cookies were not as good as before Covid. I never saw cookies in the buffet only in the IC. Thanks for the info. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

@cruzin4usdid anyone ever tell you what was wrong with the internet?  

[cr8tiv1]

4 hours ago, judyjudy56 said:

We were just on the Ruby and the peanut butter cookies were not as good as before Covid. I never saw cookies in the buffet only in the IC. Thanks for the info. 

i agree with you regarding pb cookies.  But they are still better than me trying to bake a batch. They are hidden in the back of the IC.  You have to ask for them. Peanut allergy policy?

[ebeluga]

Even at this wee hour 1:10 am, internet is painfully slow on the Discovery!!

[JF - retired RRT]

5 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

i agree with you regarding pb cookies.  But they are still better than me trying to bake a batch. They are hidden in the back of the IC.  You have to ask for them. Peanut allergy policy?

I think they hide them because the crew wants them all to themselves. 🤣