gotta cruise again

I too took a sterling chain I had and added a large figure 8 clasp to it. Then I keep the medallion in its clear plastic holder added to the figure 8 clasp. The photo shows it doubled but I actually almost always wear it at full length for the usage reasons already mentioned. I really like adding other chains with it so the medallion is less prominent.

Land is now in sight but no new word on when we’ll dock: seems to still be at 1500. I looked at PC webcam (a while ago) and it showed 3 ships already in port. Breakfast & lunch served in both the restaurant and the pool buffet. Food info: don’t try to bring buffet food into the lounge to eat as “food is not allowed in the lounge”. (Snacks & small bites are actually considered food—lol)

I haven’t really had any problems at all posting pictures (and the couple of tiny videos) to cruise critic. Again, we just have the basic internet package that came with YC. So thought I’d just give this update on my experience.

IMG_8612.mov Here is an 11 second video of the sea, taken through the balcony window.

I cannot remember if I wrote about this earlier or not. If I did, then we’ll chalk it up to visions of sugarplums dancing in my head!!! We had dinner in Ocean Cay specialty the other night and I left the restaurant to go a short distance around the corner to the public restroom. This facility was for anyone to use and each stall was self contained including its own sink. Signage in all public restrooms notes that after washing your hands, use a paper towel to open the door. East from both the stall and the larger restroom as towels & trash bins are handy. But after leaving the restroom, you have to use a door handle to return to the specialty dining hallway. No towels or trash bin, no hand cleaner dispenser, no automatic door. I did have a towel to use on this handle as I happened to pay attention on my way to the restroom but once back at the restaurant, no trash bin at host station so the host just held out his hand for me to give him the towel. I did explain that the towel was used to open that public door to the hallway…so I hope he then washed his hands. A long story just to inform that you may have just washed your hands but then will get them dirty again if you don’t realize there are other doors to open!

Double checking the cabinets and came across this magnet sign that would be used to confirm a cabin is clear. As you can see, it’s kept in a slot inside the under sink cabinet where the trash can is located. I hope I don’t get in any trouble since I removed the little sign from its sleeve for a moment!!

Looking back through my photos and I see I missed posting this one. As a reminder, I’m not critiquing the food but this was really tasty and REALLY big!! Lamb Shank: there was meat all the way around the bone!

This next post is just my own opinion but I’m including it as I read a lot about folks trying to pack light. Me, I don’t pack light!! We enjoyed dressing up and having choices on this cruise. However, we could have skipped having white night outfits, flower outfits, and tropical outfits. Those clothing choices would apply if we were going to attend the 1030pm (and later!!) festivities where those outfits were celebrated. We didn’t even venture out to take a look. Now DH did wear a tropical shirt and I did wear flowered options on those evenings where that was the evening dress. But we were bringing those clothes even if that wasn’t the suggested attire. For our next MSC cruise, we might have theme clothes but I won’t be planning on bringing items specifically to meet a theme. Hope this helps with any packing concerns some of you may have.

The magnifying mirror in YC is not lit. I found the bathroom lighting to be very good…maybe too good! I did use the desk area to apply my makeup and though the lighting there is bright, it only comes from the ceiling so casts shadows on your face. I did bring a handheld, unlighted makeup mirror that I found helpful at the desk.

So sorry that I have been MIA but spent yesterday afternoon packing (while ship was NOT moving!!) along with a very enjoyable dinner with new friends. It was rather bouncy & creaky last night but my electronic wrist bands are doing the trick so no motion sickness for me. We got very prompt delivery of room service breakfast; DH ran up to the YC pool buffet and got us both some lunch. Our butler, his assistant, and now the assistant’s assistant (yep: 3 people!!) have been taking wonderful care of us if we needed anything but all we’ve needed was that breakfast and then dishes removed. I do have a bit more that needs to be packed and will be working on that soon. In the meantime, here’s where we are, ship speed, and wind speed: DH just added that the wind is actually whistling down the cabin passageways!! He opened our door so I could hear it. And, last night I inquired of our butler how long he thought we’d be able to use our cabin on Sunday, with the delay getting into port. He said probably until around 1400 (2pm) but we’d be given more info on that later today.

Here it is!! Thanks for the tip!! I started right in—forgot to take the picture until almost done LOL

The slides!!! I was mostly brave but wasn’t going to go by myself so I enlisted another passenger to go. My DH took photos. 1st: you go to the main level of the jungle pool to sign away your life & get a wrist band. 2nd: you climb up 68 steps to where the 2 main slides depart. There is a brown, mostly open slide but we decided if the little, little children are doing both of the 2 big blue slides, then we’d skip what we thought was the kiddie slide (or the orientation slide, if you prefer that terminology!!) Starboard slide: it is an enclosed tube but does have several clear sections that let in light. I don’t think you can take in the view when whipping through the clear sections due to your focus being on the downhill curves in front of you! You can “race” the person next to you to the bottom. I stayed dry (hair & face) until hitting the water-brake at the end of the tube. Be looking ahead for this so eyes are closed (contact lenses!!) and/or breath held. This was very fun and we did it twice (68 steps x 2). Port side slide: for this one, 1 or 2 person donut inner tubes are used. You wait in a line at the end of the slide for the next available inner tube of your choice. Then, it’s back up 68 steps-ugh!! I should mention that the little ones may come flying around you and occasionally there is someone coming back down the stairs! Between that additional traffic, stairs, wet floor, carrying an inner tube…well, just take your time and be careful!! Back to the port side slide: it is a fully enclosed tube with no clear parts, only some green lighting along the path. For both slides, they have attendants at the top who will tell you what to do and help aged people like me. Attendants at the bottom do the same. This slide was great: so much fun we also did this one twice!! Up to 68 steps x 4…who needs a gym?!? Wrist band (as if you couldn’t tell) And I lived to tell the story!!

@bob brown Here is today’s schedule which shows a number of trivia-type activities even though we’re in port.

Initially we were told we would not have to disembark and parade around the cruise terminal since we were booked in a 10 day and not 3+7. Wrong—they said we did. So, passports in hand along with cruise cards, we met in the YC lounge; I think rest of pax met in a restaurant or lounge. Then we all met up on deck 6(??) to “ding” off the ship. Walk the “jet bridge”, long hallway, zigzag down a ramp, pass where luggage will be when we actually disembark, pass the facial recognition rolling stands, and into a snake roped off area to wait for wheelchair folks to pass facial recognition first. Now, if we had known (another lesson learned!!) there would be that much walking for DH, we would have gotten him a wheelchair or at the very, very least have brought his walking-seat (see Ta-Da chair, which I learned about here on CC!!). He was wiped out for the rest of the day. After facial recognition, then back through luggage, up zigzag ramp, long hallway, jet bridge, then to cabin (without benefit of butler-expedited passage). Yes: they give you passes so you can leave the port and have an easier time getting back on the ship. I wouldn’t say it was chaotic but we didn’t know what to expect so weren’t prepared for DHs mobility needs to be adequately met. However, I cannot speak to any possible chaos at the port should you leave for a while and return later. Would we do it again? Yes, as we know more!

@bob brown I too enjoy trivia but haven’t ventured out to see any of their games; would be more likely to do so if DH felt like doing more activities. That said, I did pop into a MSC trivia game on about the 2nd question and joined a team of only 2 people. There were only 3-4 total teams (port day) and those each had several members. Our team won but the host would only give a prize to the 2 original members since I dystart the game!! I thought that kinda cheap; I didn’t need whatever the prize was and would have probably given it back to the host. So my lesson learned was to play to have fun and even learn some useless fun facts from the questions!! If I’m out and about and come upon a game, I’ll write back and let you know what I see there.