Essiesmom sails Seashore Dec. 7-17. A Live From from Below the Salt

[Essiesmom]

16 minutes ago, Todd320 said:

Thank you for the pictures!

 

Could you take a pic of the daily planner.

Thank You!

I will try, but it may come out in segments.  I wish I had a portable scanner, but that might be more trouble than it's worth.  

   Back from MDR lunch.  Long conversation with a table full, 8 top.  They were quite busy.  I only had the cobb salad, as dinner at 5:15 comes all too soon.

 

 

There was a new picture sequence running above the Seashore Bar but I didn't get upstairs in time to get pics.  But then this one came on.  There is animation, with the rocking horse moving, and a teddy bear keeps popping up, and a toy trains runs around his feet.  But before I could get any of that, a performer came out and started setting up his equipment.  Maybe another time.

 

 

I took pictures of a few items as I walked back to my cabin.

 

 

 

Venchi gift boxes

 

This collapsible tree...They must have bought a hundred...Bet they are on every ship...

 

Sea appears a bit lumpy with some whitecaps.  

[Essiesmom]

WE had a full table again tonight.  The newest couple had moved to join new friends, but we gained two ladies who are part of a group of 16 (I think) and speak mostly Spanish.  I had the Pear and goat cheese salad, which I forgot to photograph.  Just a greens salad with thin slices of pear and some goat cheese clumps, oil and vinegar dressing.  Then I had the Coq au Vin which was a leg and part of a breast .  It was okay.

 

 

 

After eating I went straight to the show.  Total Divas.  This is the show I didn't attend last Thursday.  Another high action show, although I don't think they did the most famous songs of the Divas mentioned.

  After that I wandered a bit, taking random pictures around the ship.  As on the last segment, women are dressing up, even though Elegant night isn't until tomorrow.  People watching is great.  

  I needed to walk so went to deck 9 because it is all cabins.  It annoys me greatly that my program doesn't credit me with as much time as I do walking.  

   Pet peeves:  up on 9 there were two bariatric size scooters parked in the hallway...outside HC cabins.  There is room in those cabins for four scooters.  I have peek inside.  On my corridor is a baby stroller in the narrowest part of the hallway.  There are a lot of strollers and scooters on this cruise.  Next, people with long hair who play with it in food venues.  

   There was a request for daily programs, so here they are so far:

 

 

Champagne and Wine Bar deck 7

 

 

 

Watches & Glasses

 

Hola! Tacos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basketball doesn't bring the crowd that football does

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking up the picture dump

[Essiesmom]

Looking down on the piano duo in Times Square

 

 

They should have put the slot machines in here instead of the Sports Bar.  This is an underutilized space with uncomfortable  seating.

 

 

 

Art Gallery

 

 

 

Sushi

 

 

 

 

 

Atrium

 

Perhaps the most uncomfortable of the chairs

 

Heading to casino.  I didn't take pics there because too many people

 

 

 

 

Casino bar

 

 

 

 

 

The ends of some rows have seats that are wider than most.

 

You enter the theater either via a level corridor on deck 6 that brings you in at the front of the seating, or from deck 7 and come down the stairs.  HC access seems to be deck 6, and there were scooters and w/c and rollators lined up against the front of the stage.

  I went up to the buffet this evening to fill up with iced tea prior to a planned trip for gelato.  I got a tiny piece of cake and a small sandwich instead of the gelato.  But I finally located the self serve soda machine for those with a beverage package.  There only seems to be this one station.

 

Wine

 

Heineken

 

That's all for now.  Time for a final walk, and bed.

[jinpasco]

Essiesmom...did your room temperature get better ?

[go.without.you]

@Essiesmom I agree with the playing of the long hair. I guess because they paid a lot for it they want to make sure it's still there because it seems people with real hair don't touch it but extensions or wigs are constantly being stroked like a cat. I mimic them by stroking my invisible long hair. It emphasis how they look when they do it.

[Essiesmom]

By setting the thermostat to between the red and blue ( heat and cool) I managed to get it up to 70 with 70% humidity.  I can live with that.  It’s a rainy sea day…venues will be busy.  Jungle pool (salt water, covered) will be busy.  

[Essiesmom]

1 minute ago, go.without.you said:

@Essiesmom I agree with the playing of the long hair. I guess because they paid a lot for it they want to make sure it's still there because it seems people with real hair don't touch it but extensions or wigs are constantly being stroked like a cat. I mimic them by stroking my invisible long hair. It emphasis how they look when they do it.

These are not people with extensions, it’s all natural.  Different ethnic group.  Mostly young people.  

[Essiesmom]

The sun came out.  It may be a nice day for the pools after all.  Partly cloudy, though.  I came through the Atrium this morning and it appears we sprung an Alpine village overnight.  Maybe the Italian alps?  No gingerbread, but a lot of frosting.

Oops.  Forgot pics are on phone.  Give it a minute.

Edited December 13, 2023 by Essiesmom
Add pictures

[Essiesmom]

Lunch in MDR

 

Mozzarella sticks

 

Tex-Mex chicken salad.  Not large, but just right.  two slices of chicken.  Ranch dressing.  Don't know if it was just a good salad, or if it was the ranch that made it good.  But it was just what I needed.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

The sun came out.  It may be a nice day for the pools after all.  Partly cloudy, though.  I came through the Atrium this morning and it appears we sprung an Alpine village overnight.  Maybe the Italian alps?  No gingerbread, but a lot of frosting.

Oops.  Forgot pics are on phone.  Give it a minute.

Looks like they’re kicking the Christmas decorations up to high gear now.

[Two Wheels Only]

16 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Pet peeves:  up on 9 there were two bariatric size scooters parked in the hallway...outside HC cabins.  There is room in those cabins for four scooters.  I have peek inside.  On my corridor is a baby stroller in the narrowest part of the hallway.  There are a lot of strollers and scooters on this cruise. 

 

Those things really shouldn't be in the hallways. It's a safety hazard and not just an inconvenience for other guests.

[Essiesmom]

Gala night and quite a few are dressed well  Others not so much. Menu below. I was not really hungry, and though I would usually have the filet, I am trying to eliminate beef and I already had prime rib a couple days ago. So I had the eggplant parm appetizer and Greek salad with baked Alaska dessert. It was good but so much roughage is going to make a busy morning. Pretty sure I am losing weight!

[Essiesmom]

Oops…. Wrong menus

 

[Essiesmom]

Activity sheet for today

 

[Essiesmom]

 OSTs Maya tomorrow, activity sheet

 

[Essiesmom]

The show tonight was very good.  One singer even had an opportunity to show off her operatic skills. Wish they still did the opera act. 
  Wandered a bit but had to go back to the cabin to charge my watch. Back out I put on some lipstick and had some pics taken. I don’t make good pictures anymore. I guess the problem is the look like me, but not the me I want them to look like. Smiling is a problem. Lips seem to get thinner and a smile looks forced, and more like a grimace  .

  Wandered a bit trying to meet exercise goal. Still need six minutes .  Closed down karaoke and the Oceanic Band is on break. I am having the second drink of the cruise…another Diet Coke. I need the caffeine to diurese as my ankles are swelling .

 

[Essiesmom]

Docked on time in Costa Maya.  I think seas are a bit rough as although we are tied up, my cabin is bouncy.  Should be busy/crowded as we are in port with Carnival Magic and Mein Schiff 6.  I think they have just announced we have been cleared, so time to head for the MDR for breakfast.  I will mosey ashore later.  

[Homosassa]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

Docked on time in Costa Maya.  I think seas are a bit rough as although we are tied up, my cabin is bouncy.  

There is a tropical low pressure system swirling in the Gulf of Mexico east of your location.

 

Wave height is forecasted to be 15-20 feet, winds gusts up to 50 mph.

 

The system is moving due east and will be causing a sub tropical storm across Florida and the Bahamas over the next 5-6 days.

 

I hope your next port is to the south  or, if the Captain announces an itinerary change, you will know the reason.

[bob brown]

Thanks for taking the time to do this thread.  Following along, as I would like to learn about this ship that I will be sailing on, on January 7th.

 

I was sorry to read about you dining alone on an 8 seat table, one night.   I would think on such a large ship, MSC could do better for solo traveler's, and have a "solo traveler table".   NCL does a much better job in that regard.

 

Another thing that mystifies me, was the photo of your cabin.   Unless I am misinterpreting, it seems the bed is in the "narrower" part of the cabin, and the sofa is in the "wider" part.  In my experience, when cabins are fitted in this "interlocking" design, they place the bed in the wider part, and the sofa in the narrower part, in an alternating pattern.

[Essiesmom]

10 minutes ago, bob brown said:

Thanks for taking the time to do this thread.  Following along, as I would like to learn about this ship that I will be sailing on, on January 7th.

 

I was sorry to read about you dining alone on an 8 seat table, one night.   I would think on such a large ship, MSC could do better for solo traveler's, and have a "solo traveler table".   NCL does a much better job in that regard.

 

Another thing that mystifies me, was the photo of your cabin.   Unless I am misinterpreting, it seems the bed is in the "narrower" part of the cabin, and the sofa is in the "wider" part.  In my experience, when cabins are fitted in this "interlocking" design, they place the bed in the wider part, and the sofa in the narrower part, in an alternating pattern.

There is no interlocking design.  All walls are straight.  

 

38 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

There is a tropical low pressure system swirling in the Gulf of Mexico east of your location.

 

Wave height is forecasted to be 15-20 feet, winds gusts up to 50 mph.

 

The system is moving due east and will be causing a sub tropical storm across Florida and the Bahamas over the next 5-6 days.

 

I hope your next port is to the south  or, if the Captain announces an itinerary change, you will know the reason.

Our next port is Cozumel to the north, and then a sea day as we return to Port Canaveral.  Not concerned…I have three sets of sea bands with me.  I can stack them like bracelets…. EM

[Homosassa]

40 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

There is a tropical low pressure system swirling in the Gulf of Mexico east of your location.

 

 

Correction: That should be sub tropical, not tropical. 

 

The storm predicted for Florida and the Bahamas is a sub tropical storm.

[bob brown]

5 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

There is no interlocking design.  All walls are straight.  

 

Ahhh....I took another look, and I see that you are correct.  It was just an optical illusion in one photo where the sofa appeared to be recessed further back then the bed.   Thanks for the clarification.🙂

[Homosassa]

12 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

There is no interlocking design.  All walls are straight.  

 

Our next port is Cozumel to the north, and then a sea day as we return to Port Canaveral.  Not concerned…I have three sets of sea bands with me.  I can stack them like bracelets…. EM

That will probably be a rough ride.

 

 I won't be surprise if you post that Cozumel is being skipped and the Captain is working the ship's course over those two days to get back to Port Canaveral.

 

National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZNT24 KNHC

FZNT24 KNHC 141340
OFFNT4

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami, FL
840 AM EST Thu Dec 14 2023

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico

Seas given as significant wave height, which is the average height of the highest 1/3 of the waves. Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height.

GMZ001-150145
Synopsis for the Gulf of Mexico 840 AM EST Thu Dec 14 2023

SYNOPSIS
Strong high pressure building across the eastern United States will support fresh to strong winds over the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico today. These winds will increase to gale force over portions of the NE Gulf tonight and Friday. Low pressure will form in the SW Gulf by Fri night then move NE and into Florida Sat night into Sun. This will cause additional gales in the NE Gulf. A cold front will trail from the low, exiting the Gulf early on Sun. Expect widespread showers and thunderstorms over most of the central and eastern Gulf through early Sun. Fresh to strong north winds will spill into the western Gulf Sat and Sat night behind the front. High pressure will then settle in over the area through early next week allowing for marine conditions to improve.

Edited December 14, 2023 by Homosassa

[Essiesmom]

Went ashore and it is very windy, which helped push me down the pier. Once in the shopping area it was sheltered. It has been organized a bit since I was last here four years ago. There was a stand selling churros and I was very tempted. I walked back, feeling very virtuous that I didn’t cave and take the tram. I bought one item that I was looking for. The duty free store you enter through is new to me. And I seem to remember that the pool was walk in with sand. Now there is a wall all around and a shallow shelf. There is a tower with lifeguard. While I was watching apparently a small boy without floaters step off the shelf into deeper water. The lifeguard leapt off the tower and was there in a flash. I think there was a little talk with a parent.  
 Now it’s time to go for a bite and fill my bottle with tea. 

[TravelandLeisure85]

Have they communicated anything to you about a late arrival to Port Canaveral due to weather? We are embarking the Seashore on the 17th, and I just received an email stating that embarkation wouldn’t begin before 5:00 because of weather.