Rare crusin7 Posted January 6 #1 Share Posted January 6 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Live Cruise Reports page.. . When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" crusin7 was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' Welcome all to the long awaited 2024 World Cruise. It has been 900 days since we booked. WHOO HOO we are so excited! We arrived at the Mandarin Oriental last night. By time we checked in the Regent cocktail party was over. The rooms are beautiful with a balcony. Breakfast Buffet this morning was the usual fare. Scrambled eggs…lukewarm. Bacon, potatoes, waffles and bagels/toast. We are on the 11:00 bus to the ship. I’m sure @flossie009 left it in tip top shape. Crisy 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong1 Posted January 6 #2 Share Posted January 6 Hi Crisy - So looking forward to your wonderful pictures and narrative! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 6 Author #3 Share Posted January 6 Well we made it to the port. It is noon and they are still not checking people in. They say there was a problem disembarking. So we are waiting. They told us to be seated but people are standing by the ropes. I just read @flossie009 that they were the first ones off at 0930. And so we wait! I guess we are so happy we are doing headstands! 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjbacon Posted January 6 #4 Share Posted January 6 Bon voyage! Really excited to follow along. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 6 Author #5 Share Posted January 6 We were able to check in at 12:30. It took awhile because they collected all our Visa information and took pictures of it all. We were excited to see Massimo the GM. He was standing next to Security as we boarded. Jamie and Dana were also part of the welcoming committee. They are extremely friendly. We were also happy to see Fernando, the Restaurant Manager and Jason. Jim’s Luggage Forward bag did not make it to the ship. They notified us 12/29 that they didn’t know where the bag was. Their communication has been abysmal. They finally called us 1/3 to say it was located in Memphis. We told her we would pay to have it sent second day air. They said that they would not let us pay. We never heard from them again. Of course, no luggage. I called at 2:00. They said they think it is still in Memphis because they didn’t get an update from Fedex. They will try it to send it to the next port. I told her if they can’t make it to the United States what makes them think they can get it to Columbia. I am supposed to hear from her at 6 PM. Tonight is the Gala Dinner. It will be spread across the three restaurants. We are to dine in Compass Rose. I don’t like that they didn’t include Cathy’s name on the invitation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpnztutor Posted January 6 #6 Share Posted January 6 I would mention that Cathy’s name was excluded to the general manager so it doesn’t happen again. Hopefully, Jim’s luggage will arrive soon. Cheron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnocket Posted January 6 #7 Share Posted January 6 I've never used Luggage Forward, and I'm not likely to give it a try having read too many complaints about missing bags. It would certainly be convenient, but I'd be worried the whole time about my luggage not making it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞 that yours turn up. BTW I just got off this morning. We did our best to leave the ship in tip top condition for you. I'll be following your journey with great interest . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 7 Author #8 Share Posted January 7 I spoke to Luggage Forward. They will try to get it to Jim in San Diego. What???? 3 weeks. Pitiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCCruzQueen Posted January 7 #9 Share Posted January 7 11 hours ago, mnocket said: BTW I just got off this morning. We did our best to leave the ship in tip top condition for you. I'll be following your journey with great interest . Everything looks in tip-top condition. Mariner is sparkly and shiny. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouChamp Posted January 7 #10 Share Posted January 7 Aloha. Looking forward to reading your posts. Have a wonderful voyage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhD-iva Posted January 7 #11 Share Posted January 7 I love Mariner! Enjoy! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 7 Author #12 Share Posted January 7 Good Morning Miami! Last night we had dinner in Compass Rose. Here is the menu. Lobster Risotto Beef Chocolate The Risotto was the highlight of the meal. Staff Captain Ivan was a delightful dinner companion. We all had a great time. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gilly Posted January 7 #13 Share Posted January 7 Chrisy, it's going to be hard to keep up with dining in such style but I know that if anyone can, you can do it!! Thanks for giving us the insider's view and putting up with envious followers like me 😉 By the way, I will be looking in frequently with fingers crossed in the hope that your luggage turns up somewhere way before you reach San Diego...🤞 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 7 Author #14 Share Posted January 7 I welcome anyone to post on this blog! Any input is appreciated. There are 380 World Cruisers. The entertainment last night was the Commodores. First we had speeches from both Captains and Regent Representatives. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 7 Author #15 Share Posted January 7 The first segment cruisers started arriving early at 1000. No chair hogs today! Cool and windy. We stayed on our balcony for sail away. The rain started as soon as we pulled away. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjbacon Posted January 7 #16 Share Posted January 7 Your pictures are terrific, thank you! The lobster app and the risotto look especially delicious. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wishIweretravelling Posted January 7 #17 Share Posted January 7 The halibut entre at the gala dinner was outstanding. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinerLad Posted January 7 #18 Share Posted January 7 We are also onboard. Thank you so much for doing this. Your pics are great and will create a memorable recap of the journey for us and our family and friends. Hope to meet you in person as the adventure unfolds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFOflyguy Posted January 7 #19 Share Posted January 7 I had to cancel the first 17 day leg of this sailing due to illness. Please let me live vicariously through all the posts and pictures! It would be great to see daily activities, food pictures, and anything else to help me as I recover. I wish you all a wonderful journey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOARMY Posted January 8 #20 Share Posted January 8 (edited) So--SFOflyguy: Will you be boarding Mariner at San Francisco on 01/24/2024? Hope answer is Yes. That is when spouse and self will be walking (if there is no rain) downhill most of the way from Ritz Carleton Hotel to the Pier. Hope to see you onboard for segment to Tahiti. GOARMY! Edited January 8 by GOARMY Edit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 8 Author #21 Share Posted January 8 @SFOflyguy So sorry to hear about your illness! Thank goodness you will make it for the next segment. We relaxed and recuperated from the brutal job of unpacking. Too many suitcases…too many clothes! Except for Jim, whose luggage will hopefully arrive in San Diego. Cathy and I went to the Spa. She had a massage and me a facial. Both were very good. I’m sure I look 5 years younger…HA! We had a nice dinner in Compass Rose. Embarkation day always get…. Black Mussels Pasta with clams in a champagne sauce Veal Piccata with marscapone polenta But the best part is we had Dennis as our waiter! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 8 Author #22 Share Posted January 8 Good Morning! We are cruising the Florida Straits. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 8 Author #23 Share Posted January 8 Cathy and I went to BINGO. We barely had enough players to qualify. Yipppeeeee Cathy won two times. The pot split once. Lunch at Pool Grill Fish Al Fresco Black Mussels It was good to meet @MarinerLad Turns out we sat near each other in Compass last night. Tonight is the Captain’s Welcome and Reception. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crusin7 Posted January 9 Author #24 Share Posted January 9 The Captain’s Reception was very crowded. We were jammed in the theater. People were standing. People were trying to squeeze into the middle of a row. People had drinks spilled on them…yes me. The Officers were introduced. One gentleman sang one song. One couple danced to their own choreography. They were great. We were finished at 6:25. We had dinner in Prime 7. It was excellent. Our waiter Youda was fantastic. Half order Lettuce Wedge Small Portion Prime Rib…Excellent I couldn’t wait and started to put horseradish on! Half order Popcorn Sundae…Superb 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjbacon Posted January 9 #25 Share Posted January 9 Prime rib is always better with horseradish on it! Your order in prime 7 was perfect with the wedge salad and popcorn sundae. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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