**Live** MSC Seascape 9/21-9/28 & 9/28-10/5 Caribbean Cruise

[DaKahuna]

During my ‘walk about’ yesterday, I took another opportunity to visit the Bridge of Sighs.  This time I did a video similar to the one I did for the Infinity Bridge. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

29 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

I believe the captain said that we might try later today but stepping out on the balcony there is a lot of wind out there.  

Darn!  I hope the wind tapers off so you can dock!

 

29 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

In the mean time we are just listening to the CNN reports on what is and has been transpiring in Helene’s path.  Flooding is really a concern all the way up into Tennessee. 

Flooding in my area, including my own back yard...and a pool that is literally over flowing... but the rain is tapering off.  Heavy winds have moved in and should push things onward by afternoon when the sun is expected to make an appearance to hopefully start the evaporation of all this water.  

[DaKahuna]

41 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Darn!  I hope the wind tapers off so you can dock!

 

 Does not look like that is going to happen.  The results are not totally terrible in that we will have the lunch normally served on the island served to us onboard in the comfort of the air conditioned dining room 🙂 

 

43 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Flooding in my area, including my own back yard...and a pool that is literally over flowing... but the rain is tapering off.

 

 Hopefully it will work out that way and you are able to dry out quickly.  The sun just made an appearance through the clouds here briefly but it’s still windy. 

 

 Our daughter send us a text message this morning that was raining heavily this morning and that rain is forecasted for the next four days.   The rain does not concern us as there is no danger of flooding in our area but there is always a concern about power outages as I have limited capacity on the battery backup for our sump pumps in case of an extended power outage.  Fortunately we have not had an issue with that and hopefully never will. 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

During my ‘walk about’ yesterday I took a video of my ride on the glass elevator’s from deck 8, the Infinity Pool up to deck 19 aft.  

 

 

 

 

I also took a short video of the sail away as we backed away from the pier. 

 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

We had a nice leisurely breakfast this morning and as we thought would happen, the ship did not pull into Ocean Cay due to the high winds.  So we sailed around slowly in circles for a few hours and the captain tried again around noon. 

 

Breakfast was a repeat of other meals, omelettes for the two of us, tea, toast, and bagel with cream cheese so I will not take up your time with repeat pictures.  The only thing that changed was that I ordered and received jalapeños in my ham, cheese, spinach, and bell pepper omelette.  To look at the outside you would not know it though.

 

We proceeded to the TSL after breakfast and enjoyed a Holiday Coffee (two for me) and the company of @Best Cat Mom & @Best cat Dad for a short while before retiring to our room for a short nap. 

 

Since Ocean Cay was skipped this morning, we were able to enjoy the normal menu from Ocean House in air conditioned comfort of the YC restaurant.  Here is the menu:

 

 

My DW ordered the cheeseburger.  

 

 

It had been previously recommended/demanded that I have the burger with the lobster salad from the lobster roll as a topping.  Not being one to disregard ‘orders’ I thought what could go wrong —

 

Burger - no bun,

 

 

Lobster roll - no bun 

 

 

My lunch — a cheese burger topped with lobster roll, tomato, onion and pickle.  It tasted a lot better than it looks.  

 

 

This time we were successful at backing into the pier and were docking by the time we finished our lunch.

 

Before lunch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(All seen from our balcony on deck 18) 

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

"I never met a (cheeseburger) I didn't like" Will Rogers

[Dock B]

DW was just telling me yesterday she’s planning on ordering the burger & lobster combo, sans buns, when we’re at OC (twice!) this coming Dec & Jan. She was excited to see her order in advance via your photo—thanks!

[chrisgp999]

21 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

You are a very daring person to upgrade while on a cruise!  And to beta versions!  I'm keeping our iPhones at 17.6.1 until we get home, and I never upgrade until there's a .1 update to anything major [in this case it will be 18.1.1]

Hope you backup your iPhone before upgrading.

[chrisgp999]

16 hours ago, mahdnc said:

What’s with the hand in your second photo?

That is a little levity from the bridge while the ship is in port.  Not exclusive to MSC.  I've seen this on every cruise from every cruise line I've sailed with.

[mahdnc]

Bridge jocularity?  Oh my!

[DaKahuna]

6 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

Bridge jocularity?  Oh my!

The hand is always on the side of the ship that is where the pier is/will be.

 

our captain’s nick name is ‘Captain Bye Bye’ because he he always ends his announcements with the phrase ‘bye bye’

 

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, chrisgp999 said:

Hope you backup your iPhone before upgrading.

 

Nah - I like to live dangerously. 

 

 

Just kidding.  I backup everything to iCloud on a regular basiss.

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, chrisgp999 said:

Hope you backup your iPhone before upgrading.

Not sure that even a backup would help if an upgrade bricks your phone at sea.  But DaKahuna may be in a tech guru Beta program and have to upgrade with each new bucket o' bugs...

[DaKahuna]

I have been keeping a secret from you — now is time for the reveal. 

 

Between breakfast and lunch today, our Butler and assistant butler redecorated our room (I had no idea this was happening either).  After we had breakfast this morning we ventured down to the TSL and had a comple of “Holiday Coffee’s” and chatted for a while with @Best Cat Mom and @Best cat Dad.  Walking back to our room we encountered our Butler who quietly wished my wife a Happy Birthday.  

 

When we entered our stateroom I opened the door and then stepped aside so she could walk in first .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was very surprised and so very happy when she saw this. 

 

[DaKahuna]

We sat in the room for a while and I decided to wait until the crowds died down before heading ashore.  So I decided to lay down for a short while.  Three hours later I awoke from my nap and decided I was not going ashore today.  So we hung out in the room some more and I went to the lounge for a a cocktail.  Again I bumped into BCM and BCD an a drink and some interesting conversation later it was quickly 1845 and time for me to go and get ready for dinner.  

 

Last night after dinner we had talked with for a while with our waiter and mentioned our love for Pilipino food.  When we mentioned pancit, he said he would see if the chef could prepare some for our dinner tonight.  Well Chef Lisa came through with our favorite and a dish from her home country.  It was delicious.  We both completely cleaned our plates. 

 

 

We both ordered our main courses, my wife chose the Black Cod 

 

 

and I chose the “Surf & Turf” - steak medium rare — it came out perfect 

 

 

Our sommelier paired it with a most excellent California Pinot Noir 

 

 

We finished our main courses, ordered dessert and coffee and before our desserts appeared, our waiter, and other YC wait staff presented my DW this, accompanied with the appropriate song as well.  Again, she was totally surprised. 

 

 

Our waiter then cut a heart shaped piece which included the strawberry in the upper left hand corner and presented it to her.  He cut a heart shaped piece from the other top corner and gave to me.  

 

It was a great way to end the evening. 

 

After dinner we came back to the room and packed up the items we needed to pack for tomorrow’s room change. (we’re moving next door) .. I booked too late to get the same room for both nights so we have to move rooms tomorrow. 

 

[DaKahuna]

After getting what needed to be packed away, packed and ready for the move, I went down to have a final night cap with @Best Cat Mom and @Best cat Dad.  We chatted, they said their farewell’s to the wait staff and about midnight they decided that they had put off packing as long as they could and we departed to our respective staterooms. 

 

We are hoping to catch up with both of the post breakfast tomorrow morning for at least one final “holiday coffee” before they get kicked off the ship.  Meanwhile we will find a nice quiet corner in the lounge and try to avoid eye contract with the departing guest least they place a curse on us because they are leaving and we are getting to day. 

 

As I may have mentioned earlier - there are only 8 guest in the YC this week who will be remaining until next week. 

 

And with that I bid you a good night/morning and will pick this back up tomorrow once the dust of TAD settles. 

 

[Mommapadraig]

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

I have been keeping a secret from you — now is time for the reveal. 

 

Between breakfast and lunch today, our Butler and assistant butler redecorated our room (I had no idea this was happening either).  After we had breakfast this morning we ventured down to the TSL and had a comple of “Holiday Coffee’s” and chatted for a while with @Best Cat Mom and @Best cat Dad.  Walking back to our room we encountered our Butler who quietly wished my wife a Happy Birthday.  

 

When we entered our stateroom I opened the door and then stepped aside so she could walk in first .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was very surprised and so very happy when she saw this. 

 

I wish cruise critic had a wow button! Happy Birthday!

[Georgia_Peaches]

The birthday decor features some of the most creative use of ordinary objects turned fabulous that I’ve ever seen!  Such a nice gesture. Sending birthday wishes to Mrs. DK!

 

As an aside, some of the finest people I know have a September 27 b-day:  specifically my wonderful father (78), my sweet little granddaughter (3), and her dad, my son-in-law (31). 
 

Looking forward to chapter 2 of your cruise!

Edited Saturday at 11:44 AM by Georgia_Peaches

[DaKahuna]

For anyone interested, this is why you don’t have to worry about taxi’s if you are first off the ship 

 

[DaKahuna]

Now starts the worst thing about turn around day, saying farewell to friends you have made on the cruise and hours of waiting. 
 

A few comments.  Unlike other cruise lines we have sailed, we received little/no information on the process. No paperwork, no mertings.  Just asked our butler and he answered our questions.

 

So we are now out of our room and have taken over @Best Cat Mom & @Best cat Dad favorite corner of the TSL where we will be for the next hour and a half. 
 

Two ‘Holiday Coffee’s’ have been ordered. 
 

[morpheusofthesea]

This might be a hygienic faux pas, but my DW has all these toss pillows removed from the room immediately.

Edited Saturday at 12:10 PM by morpheusofthesea

[MonsterJoe]

27 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

For anyone interested, this is why you don’t have to worry about taxi’s if you are first off the ship 

 

I saw that last month and had the same thought. Wow.  ...for me though, I saw it as I was taking my last moments gazing from the pool deck getting coffee for DW before disembarking.  Really happy for you that you're not!

[MonsterJoe]

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

So I decided to lay down for a short while.  Three hours later I awoke from my nap and decided I was not going ashore today. 

This sounds like a perfect cruise day to me.  I will get off the ship if my family wants to, because I am on vacation to be with them, but I love nothing more than not doing anything in particular except what strikes my fancy on vacation

 

Happy Bday to DW!

[Georgia_Peaches]

13 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This might be a hygienic faux pas, but my DW has all these toss pillows removed from the room immediately.

I dare say the constant attempt to avoid contact with germs must be exhausting!  Having said that, I'm totally having our sofa covered in a sheet next time we cruise.

[DaKahuna]

We just completed the first phase of our B2B process.  

Our butler escorted us to the Concierge desk where we surrender our old cards and wrist bands, presented our passports, and were issued new cruise cards and wrist bands.  

 

Our butler said our belongings have already been moved to the new room and offered to take our carry on bags to the new room for us.  I gave him my backpack, after removing my passport as I need it for the Face-to-face with with Customs.  Otherwise we are no done and have nothing to do but sit around and wait until everyone not on B2B clears the ship.  The Concierge said he expects it will be around 1000 or so.  We’ll see.  It’s not like we have anywhere to go. 

 

We