Lush LaRue

I was in your Vibe crew for this sailing. Be Ne and Gde were great. Missed getting to know Gede because he was off back filling another position a lot of the time. Both guys received a few dozen packs of hot hands from us to help keep their pockets warm.  I think while chilly, they enjoyed having people to talk to a few times a day to help pass the time. I will always get the Vibe for Alaska - I love sitting outside at an empty bar in the cold.🥶 

Many thanks for all the menu uploads. 🙂

31 minutes ago, LatinaInTexas said:

drink card

Just confirming- does the drink card still apply For MV after the changes to the CAS program? 

2 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

4 months on / 2 months off

Heya - did you by chance catch or get a sense if there would be a large crew turnover getting off in BC/Seattle before the Alaska run? TIA! (Loving the reviews and drink pics so far 🙂

15 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

I want Veuve

Following along - I board the Bliss in Seattle on the 13th.

If you find a honeypot spot for good bubbles, lemme know. 🙂

Wishing you easy and safe travels today. 🙂

49 minutes ago, Eggs2Go said:

admire you for having the fortitude to sail to Alaska in April

Yep! I’ll be on the 2nd lucky sailing on the 13th. I will also be spending 2-3 hours tucked in on a lounger, Vibe side, for a Battle Creek Sanitarium cold weather, invigorating experience. 😆

I did the same, 2nd sailing last year around the 20th (waves to readers posting that sailed with me!). Didn’t find weather bad, but I’m from Seattle and 30s nights and mid-40s days is our normal winter. 
 

if you are posting live, it will be great to know how it goes - it seemed that we had a lot of crew turnover after LA, and there were some quick learning opportunities for staff in how to adjust to the Bliss. 

12 minutes ago, L1211 said:

open

I feel like a real CC member at this moment. 😛 Thank you! I’m going to miss your updates next week. I’m almost inspired to try a live review for April since it’s an early sailing and people are anxious to see the new Dailies. 

6 minutes ago, L1211 said:

quiet place to read

Is the District brewery place open in the day time? I remember sitting in there last April with the bar closed. It was just a nice view with low conversation or reading. Dunno if it was a one off or what exactly. 

1 hour ago, zqvol said:

sun worshiper

Heh. I still purchase a pass for April in Alaska. I’m a ‘no crowd, empty bar, quiet empty top deck, misty grey and 45 degree weather’ worshiper. I get all tucked in on a lounger and play crosswords for 2-3 hours a day. It’s perfect. 

1 hour ago, L1211 said:

tablet menus of wines.

I’ve seen and enjoyed ‘those’ a few, how is the Sparkling? I start my Friday at 11 with a bubble, and completely intend to be a very frequent bubble from sun up to sun down for my cruise. I’m someone that diet cokes and Cava in my normal life. I’m now NCL Diet Coke+, need help on the non rose bubble. (I’m a dirty girl that will add lemon to a champs that is muddy or sweet .. no shame here)

3 hours ago, L1211 said:

Instead of telling me no and offering what they do have, they apologized and told me they were going to get some for me. I never asked

Thank you for this. I’m a green’ish cruiser, with a good few sailings [2018, 2019+/2023+], another one in a few weeks. I’ve only experienced NCL and appreciate the attention to F/B and customer service. The ‘never asked’ and free style (I can’t do a formal night on vacation) keeps me coming back, even if hiccups occur, I hope things round it out. 
 

the chilled white wine, the snackies, Indian buffet, is all reassurance that I’m spending my PTO vacation days well spent. Thank you. 

Okok… Captain Ron has been added to my queue.. I can’t take it anymore - I think there is also a 2? 

I loved my visits to NOLA and it has become one of my top vacation spots. One of my to-see’s  (that’s not a bar..erm...) and have visited a few times is the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. Neat little tidbits of historical medical information. Highly recommend for something a little different.

3 minutes ago, Kp125 said:

job to make that not happen

Heya - thanks for that reassurance - I’ll for sure mention this time if it’s warranted. At the time, it felt like tattling as they were adjusting to new service levels - I don’t want to make a fuss or be an annoying pax. 
 

Hoping to hear how service goes from OP to see if the kinks have been worked out since the once-a-day change. (And any hidden champs spots 😉

7 minutes ago, L1211 said:

Starbucks cups

Same issue for us last year on Bliss. Asked for an ice bucket (ice for travel partner hip on walking days), never arrived after kindly leaving notes/a phone call. Ended up refilling a large Starbucks cup(s) with ice every afternoon to make an ice pack. 
 

Did receive a coffee maker, service items never restocked after first delivery. 
Cabin completely skipped service twice, yes, please make up room lit from early AM to return in afternoon, then again when leaving for afternoon/evening fun. 
Realize the cabin attendants are busy with more work, we never saw ours, gave up and just made-up room ourselves, hunted for clean towels and emergency TP from guest services. Schlepped service items, yes after calling the number, to the buffet to remove old food smells.

Fingers crossed daily service has improved. 

6 minutes ago, L1211 said:

Also, I found the Vue

If you happen to see it elsewhere, I’d love know. Booked LeBistro/Ocean Blue so I’d have least a few nights of Vue bubbles. 
Great review, using your notes to help prep for Alaska in April. 

7 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Yay!!!!!  see you in a bit.

Thank you for putting on a great meet n greet. Nice to exchange a little something and meet some of your faces. 🙂

So far off to a good start for my group. Got everyone on and settled without losing their cabin key or important documents. Great dining in Taste for lunch and dinner. Wifi slow but manageable. (I like the internet, chat with home for dog updates.. not someone that puts away technology on a vacation.) If I can get my cats all heading in the same direction by 10:30, we’ll see you in a bit. 🙂

Re pants: oh no! Hope those aren’t your lucky pants. 😄

Im up,I’m up!

Had a moment of panic that I was in violation of some sort of luggage weight rule. Last minute check and double check..looks like I am just under the posted “max” - I have never packed so much but I have no idea how warm or cold I’ll end up being.  .. 15 days in NOLA and cruising? Carryon no problem. 😄 

Well I bungled that up. No way to delete a post?

re passport book and card - on my way now to pick mine up. I booked so late for this ‘surprise! You might get laid-off at anytime’ make vodka lemon-aid out of lemons job news.. I didn’t want to risk sending it in expedited and having it not arrive. 

48 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 

Comment: A live report for a sailing that hasn’t even happened yet, now has reached 15 pages worth of posts and banter. This might be a fun group. 

20 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I didn’t spot any single malts, but Black Label is my go to and they have plenty.   Also plenty of Wild Turkey and Bulliet. 😎

It’s all a step up from the $10 Evan Williams and Tall Boy of Rainier for my normal ‘cheap’ happy hour. Cheers, mate. 

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I didn’t spot any single malts, but Black Label is my go to and they have plenty.   Also plenty of Wild Turkey and Bulliet. 😎

It’s all a step up from the $10 Evan Williams and Tall Boy of Rainier for my normal ‘cheap’ happy hour. Cheers, mate. 

(Trying here and posted in the roll call) Does anyone following have any information about the winemakers event happening on this sailing? Is this the ‘secret’ charter group or possibly an open event that last minute people can attend?