Brooklyn to Bayonne on QM2 and Serenity

[rafinmd]

Day CS8. Friday, October 13,2023,  Bayonne, Disembark and home

 

I will start with a couple of photos from the ship, first from embarkation in Quebec:

And from the Crystal Society event with Captain Vincent Taillard:

Queen Mary 2 is in Brooklyn

I was up just about 5 and headed up to deck 13 as we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  

Just about 7 we started backing into the Port Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, passing “The Tear”, a monument in memory of the 9/11 attacks, a gift of Russia in a time when we had a better relationship.

As we started settling into the berth the sun came up ahead of us somewhat to our port side.

My final breakfast was an omelet with some additional items.

 

I had booked a Crystal private transfer to Penn Station New York, and I was given an estimate of 8:45 to leave the ship and headed down to the Crystal Cove about 8:30.  It was almost 9 when the call to leave came and a series of Concierges and port people escorted me into the terminal and secured a porter for my waiting big bag.  We proceeded through the terminal to the exit where a Luggage Forward representative was waiting, and then my carryons were loaded into my car.

 

It was kind of a wild ride to New York with the driver apparently talking on his phone with an imprisoned relative and made some rather scary moves in traffic but we arrived at the Moynihan Train Hall just before 10.

 

I was on a regular train but had booked a day pass to Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge, normally reserved for the most premium of passengers.  On arrival I was asked if I would like a Rec Cap and I thought it a good idea.  

 

My train was scheduled for 2PM and I asked if It was possible to get an earlier train.  They couldn’t do it and after I called the Rewards line we determined that it was not possible, but the Metropolitan Lounge is very comfortable and I also enjoyed snacks and a primitive lunch.  By about 1:45 the Red Cap group for my train was assembling, and we headed down a back elevator to the platform.  It was a long walk to Business Class at the back of the train and a bit fast for my comfort but it generally worked well and I settled into my seat.  

 

The train stayed very close to on time and we arrived at the BWI Amtrak station at 4:48.  It was a short walk to the elevators to cross the tracks to the station and then on to my car.  I made a stop on the way home for groceries and walked into my front door around 6:30.

 

[USCAdventurer]

Thank you for finishing up your journey.  Glad you had nothing unexpected happen to you.  it was wonderful reaiding your cruise impressions and seeing your wonderful photographs.  I don't think you missed a thing for all of us to enjoy. 

Do you have another cruise or two to look forward to?

[cruisr]

@rafinmdI would love to sail with you some day.  I loved following your journey on two of my favorite ships.  I got a kick out of seeing what ice cream you were chosing for the evening.  LOL. We would probably be ships passing in the night whilst onboard as DH and I usually go to sleep around 3:00am and awaken about 11:00am. I am sure we could find a time period in between LOL.  I wish you many years of good health and good sailing.  

[rafinmd]

22 minutes ago, USC Adventurer said:

Thank you for finishing up your journey.  Glad you had nothing unexpected happen to you.  it was wonderful reaiding your cruise impressions and seeing your wonderful photographs.  I don't think you missed a thing for all of us to enjoy. 

Do you have another cruise or two to look forward to?

I have one more cruise on the books, November 12-24 on MS Rotterdam into the Panama Canal through the new locks.

 

I have added some entries to the collections of menus and programs with the disembarkation copy of Reflections, and for the lunch and dinner menus for October 13.

 

Menus:

 

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

 

and Programs:

 

https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/programs-canada-2023/

 

Roy

[Ibis]

Roy, thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us! I have enjoyed following your travels for some years now. You have inspired us to combine cruise lines and itineraries and even Amtrak from Florida to New York to join Queen Mary! In spite of experiencing many different cruise lines, like you I believe, Crystal has  always been our preferred destination, so we were thrilled to see you back on board Serenity. In one of your early posts about this trip you mentioned, with the exception of a few differences in the culture this was the Crystal you had always loved. Would you share with us some the differences you saw? We appreciate your point of view. Hopefully, the future will bring more travels and we look forward to hearing about them. Have a great time on Rotterdam! Thank you once again for sharing your special moment on Serenity with all of us😊

[rafinmd]

21 hours ago, Ibis said:

Roy, thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us! I have enjoyed following your travels for some years now. You have inspired us to combine cruise lines and itineraries and even Amtrak from Florida to New York to join Queen Mary! In spite of experiencing many different cruise lines, like you I believe, Crystal has  always been our preferred destination, so we were thrilled to see you back on board Serenity. In one of your early posts about this trip you mentioned, with the exception of a few differences in the culture this was the Crystal you had always loved. Would you share with us some the differences you saw? We appreciate your point of view. Hopefully, the future will bring more travels and we look forward to hearing about them. Have a great time on Rotterdam! Thank you once again for sharing your special moment on Serenity with all of us😊

Really not a lot to report.  A couple of things I noticed:

The second song at sailaway.

I remember Reflections used to start out really thick at the beginning of the cruise and gradually get slimmer.  Now it's a uniform 6 pages every day.

Not sure if this is new management or evolution but you don't get paper reflections unless you request it.

 

Unrelated and I can't remember who brought it up but I filled out my QAP today and mentioned the lack of Clotted Cream at Tea Time.

 

Roy

[Cruise-y]

Roy, thanks for mentioning the clotted cream in your review. I’m sure those who appreciate a warm scone with tea agree.

 

As for Reflections, I consider myself tech-savy, coming from a career that required it, reading books on my Kindle app, getting all my other newsletters via email, etc. But I really do like a paper Reflections. It’s so much easier to access quickly whenever I want, carry to the pool, put in my pocket and such. Having it surreptitiously slid beneath my door to look forward to every morning was somehow appealing. I could peruse it with coffee on my veranda. I’m on vacay to avoid my computer, after all. 

I totally understand if it’s six pages that’s a lot of effort to print off every night for hundreds of pax. I wouldn’t want to be the employee stuck doing it. But does it need to be that big? Alas. 
 

 

[BWIVince]

5 hours ago, Cruise-y said:

Roy, thanks for mentioning the clotted cream in your review. I’m sure those who appreciate a warm scone with tea agree.

 

As for Reflections, I consider myself tech-savy, coming from a career that required it, reading books on my Kindle app, getting all my other newsletters via email, etc. But I really do like a paper Reflections. It’s so much easier to access quickly whenever I want, carry to the pool, put in my pocket and such. Having it surreptitiously slid beneath my door to look forward to every morning was somehow appealing. I could peruse it with coffee on my veranda. I’m on vacay to avoid my computer, after all. 

I totally understand if it’s six pages that’s a lot of effort to print off every night for hundreds of pax. I wouldn’t want to be the employee stuck doing it. But does it need to be that big? Alas. 
 

 

I don’t think it has anything to do with labor, as much as waste…. It’s just as much trouble to print 20 as 200.  I’m a paper person, and a thousand times over prefer to flip through a paper publication, but we’re a dying breed.  My entire company is completely paperless, and the employees under 40 can’t even imagine why we used to print things off.  I can honestly see that a lot of people think it’s archaic to clutter your stateroom with paper schedules, or have to carry them around through the day, even though that suits me 100%.

 

Someday, like everything else, this will go all digital.  😞 

 

Vince

[Keith1010]

Roy, the plan was to be as paperless as possible.  However, initially the tablets were not ready for deployment so they printed hard copies of the reflections.

 

I am reminded how most cruise lines have evolved and many have far less paper than they did with each passing year.  Old Crystal eliminated those four page newspapers such as the abbreviated New York Times several years ago and the Guest List as two examples of this.  When we sailed Mozart there was less paper and on Endeavor things like Refections were not printed.  It took us a day or two to get used to not having the printed copy of Reflections. 

 

Thank you again for taking us along on your adventure.

 

Keith

[Sweetpea711423]

23 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Unrelated and I can't remember who brought it up but I filled out my QAP today and mentioned the lack of Clotted Cream at Tea Time.

So sweet of you to do this.  I greatly appreciate it.  Hopefully someone from Crystal will read it and be responsive.  Thanks again.

[KenzSailing]

On 10/17/2023 at 2:48 AM, BWIVince said:

  I’m a paper person, and a thousand times over prefer to flip through a paper publication, but we’re a dying breed.  

 

Vince

 

I'm with you on this big time, Vince, I even have every Reflections from every cruise we've been on(oh yeah, I know you do too.)  But, as John Maynard Keynes famously observed "in the long run, we're all dead."  Just like paper. 

[rafinmd]

I can see both points of view on Reflections.  I understand the desire to reduce paper and going to a constant 6 pages has been a huge step in that direction.  The current Reflections is constatnly a 17x11 folded sheet with pages 1,2, 5, and 6, and an 8 1.2 by 11 sheet for pages 3 and 4.

 

I have saved virtually all my Reflections since late 2011 but only in electronic format since I carry a portable scanner with me.  I always did keep the paper copies until the end of the cruise but tossed them the last night.  I often refer to previous Reflections during the cruise, so I like the paper copies.

 

I do wonder about a middle ground.  The key schedule information about events is all on that middle single page so if people could request that it would be a big help while saving 2/3 of their paper.

 

Not sure if keeping track of that is practical but it seems like a thought.

 

Roy

[NWX]

I'm ok with an electronic version but I would like the one printed page in the middle that shows the whats, wheres, and whens  for the day. It's so much easier to carry that around in a pocket rather than taking a phone or ipad everywhere. Maybe there could be a stack of just that page available at the front desk for us paper people?

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, Txcotn said:

I'm ok with an electronic version but I would like the one printed page in the middle that shows the whats, wheres, and whens  for the day. It's so much easier to carry that around in a pocket rather than taking a phone or ipad everywhere. Maybe there could be a stack of just that page available at the front desk for us paper people?

I am sure if you would like something printed the would do this for you but the reality is most places are going paperless.

 

All the hotels we have stayed at the past two years don't have printed items including room service menus and more and more cruise lines are going paperless. 

 

Most airline lounges and flights have very little if any paper as well. Very few hard copy newspapers if any. Magazines, very few if any.

 

So I think what you want is going to be the exception and don't see the need to have stacks of paper printed out.

 

Is it an adjustment? You bet.

 

Keith