Brooklyn to Bayonne on QM2 and Serenity

[JazzyV]

1 hour ago, USC Adventurer said:

roy,

thanks for your saturday comments.  i've forgotten to mention this to you in the past, but the photos are perfectly clear on the cc posts but on your blog, the photos are blurred.  would you  have any idea why that' is happening?

the food looks delivious.  i love lamb chops and the roll looked very good too.  sounds like your heading into some rough seas on sunday.  hope you won't miss a meal...heh heh heh!

Someone else mentioned this same thing about viewing pictures on Roy's blog, and it was suggested they use a different browser. That reportedly fixed the issue. Maybe give that a try.

[AtA]

19 hours ago, Sweetpea711423 said:

Hi.  I have a question regarding the afternoon tea service that might seem a bit odd.  It looked to me like there was whipped cream on the tray for the scones rather than clotted cream.  This surprises and greatly disappoints me.  I remember even at the Bistro, where they usually had scones available for some portion of the day, they always also had tins of clotted cream.  My husband and I are big clotted cream fans, and this was always something for which we gave Crystal high marks. We really wouldn't bother having scones (or afternoon tea at all) if only whipped cream is offered.  Please tell me that I'm wrong, and that clotted cream is still offered.

I don't remember if there was clotted cream on the inaugural Serenity sailing. I'm not sure we even made it to tea, but on Symphony last month, they definitely had clotted cream,

[Sweetpea711423]

3 hours ago, AtA said:

I don't remember if there was clotted cream on the inaugural Serenity sailing. I'm not sure we even made it to tea, but on Symphony last month, they definitely had clotted cream,

Thanks for the good news!

[rafinmd]

4 hours ago, AtA said:

I don't remember if there was clotted cream on the inaugural Serenity sailing. I'm not sure we even made it to tea, but on Symphony last month, they definitely had clotted cream,

I think it was offered when I was at tea Friday but opted for jam instead.  It was far too rocky to be on Palm Court this afternoon but I'll try to check later in the cruise.

 

Crystal Society Party is supposed to be this evening which could be a challenge.

 

Roy

[Sweetpea711423]

47 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

I think it was offered when I was at tea Friday but opted for jam instead.  It was far too rocky to be on Palm Court this afternoon but I'll try to check later in the cruise.

 

Crystal Society Party is supposed to be this evening which could be a challenge.

 

Roy

Thanks, Roy.  You know, it's traditional to have clotted cream AND jam - you don't have to choose one or the other!

[Ibis]

18 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

There are many other wines on board that you can purchase.  There is an extensive list but it would be very time consuming and very challenging to photo.  You could see if on board guest services might have it. Some of the wines on that list might not be available at the time of your sailing.  

 

Not sure if you ever do this nor where you are sailing but sometimes it's fun to either bring on board wine when you embark or pick up something local in port.

 

But there will be lots of other choices for purchases on board.

 

Keith

Thanks for your response. And yes, we have been known to take a couple bottles on board and/or

pick up something interesting along the way! Do you know if there is currently a corkage fee in the dining venues for wine brought on?  The one thing we had hoped would change with NC was the Jacquart as the offered champagne 😣.  However, not going to let this be a big worry in the overall scheme of things! Also, wondering if anyone has had the pleasure of attending a Vintage Room dinner with NC? Thanks again!

[Ibis]

15 hours ago, crickette said:

On OC, there was a wine list at the Bistro bar that you peruse during the day whilst enjoying a coffee.  Then order it, and it would be ready/decanted for your dinner enjoyment.

You are right, crickette! Fond memories of sitting in the Bistro, perusing the wine list, then arriving at the table for dinner to find your choice on ice and waiting! 

[TER777]

34 minutes ago, Ibis said:

Thanks for your response. And yes, we have been known to take a couple bottles on board and/or

pick up something interesting along the way! Do you know if there is currently a corkage fee in the dining venues for wine brought on?  The one thing we had hoped would change with NC was the Jacquart as the offered champagne 😣.  However, not going to let this be a big worry in the overall scheme of things! Also, wondering if anyone has had the pleasure of attending a Vintage Room dinner with NC? Thanks again!

 

I don't think there is a corkage fee. After all they save money if you drink your own wine.

 

Yes, a group of us did a VR on the Symphony's first sailing. An excellent time was had by all.

[Keith1010]

As to the corkage fee, 

3 hours ago, Ibis said:

Thanks for your response. And yes, we have been known to take a couple bottles on board and/or

pick up something interesting along the way! Do you know if there is currently a corkage fee in the dining venues for wine brought on?  The one thing we had hoped would change with NC was the Jacquart as the offered champagne 😣.  However, not going to let this be a big worry in the overall scheme of things! Also, wondering if anyone has had the pleasure of attending a Vintage Room dinner with NC? Thanks again!

Well this is an interesting one; corkage fee.

 

There actually had been one but sometimes charged and other times not but as of the other day it was no longer in place so no corkage fee.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

6 hours ago, Ibis said:

Thanks for your response. And yes, we have been known to take a couple bottles on board and/or

pick up something interesting along the way! Do you know if there is currently a corkage fee in the dining venues for wine brought on?  The one thing we had hoped would change with NC was the Jacquart as the offered champagne 😣.  However, not going to let this be a big worry in the overall scheme of things! Also, wondering if anyone has had the pleasure of attending a Vintage Room dinner with NC? Thanks again!

Hi again.  My wife and I did private Vintage Room with NC and it was exactly as it was before. Several friends have also done the group vintage room lunches and dinners and they too are the way it was before with OC.

 

Keith

[rafinmd]

 

Day CS3, Sunday, October 8, 2023, At Sea, Crystal Serenity

 

Queen Mary 2 is at sea from Quebec to Sydney.  

 

I took few photos but will start with a couple from the ship.  When Serenity was almost completely rebuilt the Casino was taken out and the space is now “The Lounge”

A highlight of The Lounge is a large model of Crystal’s first ship, the Crystal Harmony, near the passage to the Galaxy Lounge.

I woke about 5 but was not inspired to get up until about 5:30.  I put a load of wash in the laundromat about 6, then surveyed things from the pool deck a and went down to the Bistro for Coffee.  For the better part of the morning the ship was moving despite winds upwards of 40kt.

Father Edward Arnister conducted an Interdenominational worship service in the Hollywood Theater at 9.  The theme of his message was good stewardship of our opportunities.  

 

The Crystal Visions Enrichment program began at 10 with Tom deFrank providing a number of interesting stories of his encounters with Presidents over the years.  He was followed at 11 by Allan Rich with “Talk a Little, Sing A Little”, opening with Crystal Ensemble Vocalist Tom Lowe singing “I Don’t Have the Heart”.  I followed both deFrank and Rich on the live TV until my home church livestream began at 11:20 Atlantic time.  It was a special service in honor of Indigenous People’s Day and I caught it all except for a short time when Captain Taillard gave his noon update.  By this time the winds and swells had changed and really set the ship in motion.  He reduced our speed to 12kt for a slightly safer ride.

 

I opted for an easier version of lunch, just going directly to the Trident Grill and taking a seat next to the counter.  Deck crew brought me my skim milk and some pineapple for desert but I did not venture to Marketplace for greens like I would normally do.

 

The afternoon talk was Jean-Pierre Andrieux on Halifax.  I tried to watch on TV but the sound was breaking up so I went down at the last minute to the Hollywood Theater.

 

After that lecture I watched a couple of previously recorded lectures by Astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman, one on what it is like to go into space, and the other on the repair of the Hubble Telescope.

 

The Crystal Society Party was due to be held at 5:45 in Palm Court but due to the storm was postponed to Monday.

 

Just before dinner time I visited the Concierge and firmed up the plans for my transfer from Bayonne to Manhattan.  I must meet the staff at the Cove at 8:45 and my car is due at 9:15.  

I opted to dine solo and was given a window table.  While I had not seen the sun all day there was a little bit of color as I sat down to dinner.

My choices for the evening were Bouquet of Garden Greens, New York Sirloin, and Apple Pie A la Mode.

My church has an evening fellowship time via Zoom, normally at 7 but at 8 Atlantic time.  It usually runs about 45 minutes but we talked for almost an hour.  

 

The featured entertainment was “A Salute to Sinatra” with vocalist Bruce Hammond but I ended the evening quietly, and was in bed about 10:30.

 

Roy

[Ibis]

2 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Hi again.  My wife and I did private Vintage Room with NC and it was exactly as it was before. Several friends have also done the group vintage room lunches and dinners and they too are the way it was before with OC.

 

Keith

Keith, did you reserve your Vintage Room before boarding or after? We are not interested in reserving a private dinner but joining a group that might be organized by the sommelier as we have done on past voyages. Checked our roll call, Miami to Miami November 2, but nothing happening there regarding Vintage Room. Thanks again for your help! 

[Txcotn]

26 minutes ago, Ibis said:

Keith, did you reserve your Vintage Room before boarding or after? We are not interested in reserving a private dinner but joining a group that might be organized by the sommelier as we have done on past voyages. Checked our roll call, Miami to Miami November 2, but nothing happening there regarding Vintage Room. Thanks again for your help! 

 

 

26 minutes ago, Ibis said:

Keith, did you reserve your Vintage Room before boarding or after? We are not interested in reserving a private dinner but joining a group that might be organized by the sommelier as we have done on past voyages. Checked our roll call, Miami to Miami November 2, but nothing happening there regarding Vintage Room. Thanks again for your help! 

I'm not Keith but have done VR a few times. Just speak to the Head Sommelier when you board (we usually see him at lunch in Waterside on embarkation day) and let him know you are interested. When he has enough guests he will call you and ask you if you are still interested and off you go! Easy.

[JusttheTwoofUs]

14 minutes ago, Txcotn said:

 

 

I'm not Keith but have done VR a few times. Just speak to the Head Sommelier when you board (we usually see him at lunch in Waterside on embarkation day) and let him know you are interested. When he has enough guests he will call you and ask you if you are still interested and off you go! Easy.

I'm also not Keith, but we did the VR on Serenity Quebec to NYC 9/19 - 9/27.  Great time!  We asked one of the sommeliers in Bistro to let the Head Sommelier know our interest, and received a call a few hours later.  We did the evening VR, but there were also 2 lunch VR's, announced in the Reflections, that featured certain wine regions. They looked very interesting, and we will consider on our cruise next year.

 

Phyllis
 

[Ibis]

Thanks so much for responses and will plan to let Head Sommelier know our thoughts when we board! Thanks again😊

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, Ibis said:

Keith, did you reserve your Vintage Room before boarding or after? We are not interested in reserving a private dinner but joining a group that might be organized by the sommelier as we have done on past voyages. Checked our roll call, Miami to Miami November 2, but nothing happening there regarding Vintage Room. Thanks again for your help! 

You'll be able to reserved the group VR while on board.  As mentioned, you can see the Head Sommelier after you board to find out date(s) for dinner/lunch.  

[rafinmd]

I have expanded my wordpress menus page to have menus for other venues as well as at least one lunch.

 

Every link should work except menus for the last 3 days:

 

https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/crystalmenus2023/

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day CS4, Monday, October 9, 2023, Halifax, NS

 

Queen Mary 2 is in Sydney

 

I was up about 5:30 and down to the Bistro for coffee a little after 6.  When I went up to Marketplace for the first stage of breakfast just after 7 the sun was just coming up as viewed from the aft deck.

We docked about 8 at pier 20 and were cleared about8:15 but I remained on the ship until about 10.  I did take one full lap around the promenade deck and paused near the bow of the harbor walk where I would later take a brief walk.

I did leave the ship about 10 walking to about Bishop’s landing on the harbor waterfront boardwalk.  I think the total walk was somewhat over a mile but much of it was the zig-zag path through the terminal.  Along the walk I passed a few statues including one for Woman Volunteers who served the armed forces in WW2, and another to the Immigrants who arrived in Canada through the Port of Halifax.

 

On the way back I paused for a photo of Serenity at the pier.

Lunch was my typical Trident Lunch but I added a scoop of ice cream from Scoops.

 

All aboard was 3:30 and the gangway was removed right about 4, apparently right after the port agent disembarked.  The horn sounded at 4:07 and we started to move.  Louis sang at 4:13.

There was one afternoon talk after we left the port with  Jean-Pierre Andrieux speaking on the Pine Tree Line, the first of the defensive radar and other networks set up in the Cold War Era.

 

The Crystal Society Party was in Palm Court at 5:45.  Sunset was at 6:45 but it was quite cloudy so I stepped out on deck just before the party to capture the sun as it disappeared behind the clouds.

Captain Vincent Taillard (quite new to Crystal) welcomed us aboard and then Crystal Society Hostess Emmalee Sassi Seager presented awards to several top cruisers.  The very top cruiser was a lady with 161 cruises.
 
I was surprised that Waterside did not have a special Dinner for Canada’s Thanksgiving and decided to try something different, dining for the first time ever in Tastes, a venue on the Lido Deck which uses about half the space originally occupied by the covered aft pool.  I found it did not have some of the things I normally expect with dinner but enjoyed the Mongolian Lamb Chops and a double desert, a Key Lime Slice, and a plate of fruit and berries a la mode.

The featured entertainment was Icons in Concert.  I had planned to attend at least part of it but fell asleep at my desk and missed it.

 

Roy

[AtA]

Roy, I'm enjoying your descriptions of both ships. Thank you.

[rafinmd]

On 10/8/2023 at 5:09 PM, rafinmd said:

I think it was offered when I was at tea Friday but opted for jam instead.  It was far too rocky to be on Palm Court this afternoon but I'll try to check later in the cruise.

 

Crystal Society Party is supposed to be this evening which could be a challenge.

 

Roy

I did get to tea this afternoon and it was definitely whipped cream. 

 

Sorry

 

Roy

[Sweetpea711423]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I did get to tea this afternoon and it was definitely whipped cream. 

 

Sorry

 

Roy

Thanks for the update, Roy.  However, extremely disappointing, and very surprising given the availability of clotted cream previously on Crystal.  It was one of the things that, to my husband and me, set Crystal apart from other luxury lines.  (I know it may be a minor point for some, and I understand that, but it does loom large for us [and possibly for some others as well]).

 

Thanks again.

[oakridger]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

it was definitely whipped cream. 

 

This is just "wrong" in my book!!  Real clotted cream at a tea with scones is what makes it special!     

 

If Crystal doesn't want to make their own, Amazon sells it!! 😉

 

~Nancy

[Cruise-y]

30 minutes ago, Sweetpea711423 said:

Thanks for the update, Roy.  However, extremely disappointing, and very surprising given the availability of clotted cream previously on Crystal.  

 

Thanks again.

I’ve got to believe this is just an anomaly. One can’t have scones at a nice tea without clotted cream - Crystal or otherwise. Surely this would not be overlooked. But I must admit, I never do tea on Crystal  - it ruins my dinner. 

[Txcotn]

First world problems. 

[Cruise-y]

19 minutes ago, Txcotn said:

First world problems. 

Like every other preference on a luxe cruise.