Live from Millennium Panama Canal East-to-West April 21 - May 6, 2023

[twangster]

Just now, DaKahuna said:

 

Nope .. Unfortunately.  However, she is on our side of the ship so if @twangster  want to step out and wave, it would be easy to see. 

 

 

On a bus.   Maybe later.  

[DaKahuna]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

On a bus.   Maybe later.  

 

LoL — I’ll be on the Helipad for our sail out around 3 PM (1500 my time).  No binocular’s but have a little zoom on my iPhone’s camera. 🙂 

 

[Fly and Sail]

48 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

LoL — I’ll be on the Helipad for our sail out around 3 PM (1500 my time).  No binocular’s but have a little zoom on my iPhone’s camera. 🙂 

 

 

There are these little toy binoculars in the cabin. Gotta head down now before it's getting too late.

[Fly and Sail]

OMG I will pass on that Helipad nonsense.  Not standing in that line and wait until everbody climbed up that little stairwell. Will be on the sundeck instead. 🙂

 

They must have invited half the ship.

[Fly and Sail]

** Health Update **

Captains Announcement that “more passengers with covid-19 are onboard and they’re well looked after”.

 

Guests are encouraged to wear masks at the theatre and casino.

 

So much for just preparing for a DPH inspection.

[hcat]

hope you can say safe and healthy

[DaKahuna]

I hope everyone can stay healthy and safe.  

 

Thus far we are both doing well.  

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

OMG I will pass on that Helipad nonsense.  Not standing in that line and wait until everbody climbed up that little stairwell. Will be on the sundeck instead. 🙂

 

They must have invited half the ship.

 

Yes, turns out all Retreat guest and I guess Captains Club members were invited.  I expressed my amazement at how crowded it was to the Retreat Concierges.  They said the CC had approached them with a story about having not been able to have a HeliPad sailing this cruise.  I told them that I knew at least one guest who this was their second, the first being a Captain’s Club event.  The Retreat Manager was standing there when I made this comment. 🙂. 

 

Oh well, other than it being a lot more crowded that I liked, it was a fun event. 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Came back to my cabin and laundry has been returned. They didn't follow written and verbal instructions to let it AIR DRY, instead, they threw it all in a tumble dryer. Filling out damage claim forms as I'm typing this. Welcome to the wonderful world of Celebrity. Good times!

[mahdnc]

1 minute ago, Fly and Sail said:

Came back to my cabin and laundry has been returned. They didn't follow written and verbal instructions to let it AIR DRY, instead, they threw it all in a tumble dryer. Filling out damage claim forms as I'm typing this. Welcome to the wonderful world of Celebrity. Good times!

I am sorry to hear that.

 

My understanding was the helipad was full of people today and so Celebrity couldn't use the clothes line

[Fly and Sail]

28 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Yes, turns out all Retreat guest and I guess Captains Club members were invited.  I expressed my amazement at how crowded it was to the Retreat Concierges.  They said the CC had approached them with a story about having not been able to have a HeliPad sailing this cruise.  I told them that I knew at least one guest who this was their second, the first being a Captain’s Club event.  The Retreat Manager was standing there when I made this comment. 🙂. 

 

Oh well, other than it being a lot more crowded that I liked, it was a fun event. 

 

 

That was definitely a completely made up story. While my invite for our departure day from FLL said it's an Aqua Class invite I talked to at least two couples who were neither Retreat or Aqua/Concierge guests. Today's departure was beautiful from the sunset bar, catching a last glimpse of land before going back to reality (LAX).

[Fly and Sail]

1 minute ago, mahdnc said:

I am sorry to hear that.

 

My understanding was the helipad was full of people today and so Celebrity couldn't use the clothes line

 

That excuse doesn't count, the bag must have been back by the time the event started. I have some backup stuff and just ordered some clothing items to be delivered to my UPS store for pickup on Saturday. At least my bag will be lighter upon disembarkation as it makes no sense to carry that stuff anymore. 🤣 Unless I shrink by 40% which is unlikely.

[RTShaker]

5 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

That was definitely a completely made up story. While my invite for our departure day from FLL said it's an Aqua Class invite I talked to at least two couples who were neither Retreat or Aqua/Concierge guests. Today's departure was beautiful from the sunset bar, catching a last glimpse of land before going back to reality (LAX).

Well, with the lack of verifying eligibility for any attendees, the helipad was a free-for-all so to speak.

[cruisestitch]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

** Health Update **

Captains Announcement that “more passengers with covid-19 are onboard and they’re well looked after”.

 

Guests are encouraged to wear masks at the theatre and casino.

 

So much for just preparing for a DPH inspection.

The food service protocols are in place for the USPH, 

 

masks & hand sanitizers for the airborne virus

 

it probably comes down to the same things—precautions in crowded areas where germs can spread

[Fly and Sail]

1 minute ago, RTShaker said:

Well, with the lack of verifying eligibility for any attendees, the helipad was a free-for-all so to speak.

 

True - but they actually received an invite.

[Fly and Sail]

Just now, cruisestitch said:

The food service protocols are in place for the USPH,

 

Oceanview Cafe is back to normal service. This was just instituted temporarily for yesterday's lunch after a covid scare.

[DaKahuna]

16 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

Came back to my cabin and laundry has been returned. They didn't follow written and verbal instructions to let it AIR DRY, instead, they threw it all in a tumble dryer. Filling out damage claim forms as I'm typing this. Welcome to the wonderful world of Celebrity. Good times!

Damn, sorry to hear that.  We’ve never asked for any special handling on our free laundry service.  Used it twice so far.  My white t-shirts came back a little darker, according to my wife.  But she says it always works out when she uses bleach at home.

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

28 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

Came back to my cabin and laundry has been returned. They didn't follow written and verbal instructions to let it AIR DRY, instead, they threw it all in a tumble dryer. Filling out damage claim forms as I'm typing this. Welcome to the wonderful world of Celebrity. Good times!

How and where do you expect Celebrity's laundry to have enough room to air dry laundry? We've sent out a lot of laundry and except for a missing pair of briefs, and a small hole in the sleeve of a very old sweater never had a problem.

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by CHEZMARYLOU

[Fly and Sail]

10 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

How and where do you expect Celebrity's laundry to have enough room to air dry laundry? We've sent out a lot of laundry and except for a missing pair of briefs, and a small hole in the sleeve of a very old sweater never had a problem.

 

 

 

I obviously checked before and was told it's not a problem. It was then written on the form. According to management, they do it all the time. Not my first rodeo either, so this is on them. Same as any other dry cleaner or laundry service, if they can't provide a service, just refuse it, and it's no big deal.

[Moochi]

2 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

 🤣 Unless I shrink by 40% which is unlikely.

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your laundry. The big bold wish probably won't com true, unless they move one of the Peloton bikes in front of Fu Dao Le.

[Fly and Sail]

51 minutes ago, Moochi said:

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your laundry. The big bold wish probably won't com true, unless they move one of the Peloton bikes in front of Fu Dao Le.

 

No more gambling for me. I reached a sufficient amount of points, and the stupidity with Blue Chip Club is that I have to book something based on this cruise's activity before the next cruise is going to erase it.

 

Downside: I'm going on the Solstice next Friday, and the ship takes several days to submit the data.

 

As far as my shrinking is concerned, I had a light lunch and very light dinner at OVC as the menu at BLU didn't look appealing tonight. Save the calories for the chocolate cake. 👻

[DaKahuna]

Tonight’s Food Porn

 

Dinner in Luminae 

Amuse Bouche. - layered cheese and prosciutto 

 

 

Starters / Appetizers 

 

Grilled Octopus — I had it last night but was so anxious to eat it I did not get a picture.

 

 

Classic shrimp cocktail — again with extra horseradish 

 

 

My DW had French Onion sour and I ordered the Clam Chowder from the MDR menu

 

 

For our main course we both chose the rack of pork - interesting make for a port chop huh..

 

 

It was delicious ..

 

Dessert  — 

 

Vanilla Baba for the DW

 

 

And the Dulce de Leche Ganache for me

 

 

 

An important update.  

 

I mentioned earlier that we were considering having lunch tomorrow or the next day in the MDR.  I’ve since looked at the MDR and have decided that instead of sitting in the MDR, we are going to have the MDR items served to us in Luminae.  I know we have eaten a few MDR items so far this cruise but my DW much prefers the ambiance of Luminae over the MDR and Happy Wife == Happy Life so you can guess what we are going to be doing Thursday and Friday. 

 

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

8 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Tonight’s Food Porn

 

Dinner in Luminae 

Amuse Bouche. - layered cheese and prosciutto 

 

 

Starters / Appetizers 

 

Grilled Octopus — I had it last night but was so anxious to eat it I did not get a picture.

 

 

Classic shrimp cocktail — again with extra horseradish 

 

 

My DW had French Onion sour and I ordered the Clam Chowder from the MDR menu

 

 

For our main course we both chose the rack of pork - interesting make for a port chop huh..

 

 

It was delicious ..

 

Dessert  — 

 

Vanilla Baba for the DW

 

 

And the Dulce de Leche Ganache for me

 

 

 

An important update.  

 

I mentioned earlier that we were considering having lunch tomorrow or the next day in the MDR.  I’ve since looked at the MDR and have decided that instead of sitting in the MDR, we are going to have the MDR items served to us in Luminae.  I know we have eaten a few MDR items so far this cruise but my DW much prefers the ambiance of Luminae over the MDR and Happy Wife == Happy Life so you can guess what we are going to be doing Thursday and Friday. 

 

 

 

Your wife is absolutely correct.  As long as you can get MDR items in the serenity of Luminae, there is absolutely no reason to frequent the MDR.

[hcat]

On 5/3/2023 at 9:35 AM, Fly and Sail said:

 

If you have a rather large amount of non-refundable OBC it's actually a very good way to distribute it without having to deal with the casino to cash it out or buy merchandise on board.

 

With the room steward it's easy and discrete to give some extra tip but I don't like handing out cash at restaurants and other areas all over the ship. I don't need that personal "feel good touch" as long as the individual gets the award assigned.

we bring cash..

most of our OBC goes to the spa.

 

 as long as it's optional glad it is helpful to some guests.

[hcat]

16 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

I obviously checked before and was told it's not a problem. It was then written on the form. According to management, they do it all the time. Not my first rodeo either, so this is on them. Same as any other dry cleaner or laundry service, if they can't provide a service, just refuse it, and it's no big deal.

we never send anything we cant afford to lose or have ruined..been lucky!

mostly we send a bag of whites..socks tees, undies..and a bag of  kick around darks

Edited May 4, 2023 by hcat

[Fly and Sail]

21 minutes ago, hcat said:

we never send anything we cant afford to lose or have ruined..been lucky!

mostly we send a bag of whites..socks tees, undies..and a bag of  kick around darks

 

I didn't send anything of high value. T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Shorts, and one Jeans. Can replace all of it easily. I'm off on Solstice next so my options to have a bag full of clean clothes are rather limited. It's either ship laundry or wash it myself at a hotel that *might* have a laundry machine in the room/common area.