mperrizo

Before the sun had fully risen I was out getting a few laps in while we were approaching the Pier in Cozumel. Passengers were allowed to walk on shore at a few minutes after 7:00. I am not sure many folks were aware we had cleared unless they are early risers or have an excursion booked. No formal announcement was made this morning that I noticed in the public spaces. The pool or resort deck is wonderfully lit at night or in this case this morning. It is worth the detour one evening or early morning to see how thoughtful this was done in the ships design. As I was beginning to think about stopping for another cup of coffee two cruise ships started to arrive at the neighboring piers the Carnival Vista and the Disney Dream. This morning the Beyond’s approach to our pier was slow and methodical as we performed a 180 and secured ourselves on the Port Side. As my laps came to an end we had an up close up view of the Legend preforming this same maneuver. Just as yesterday I am fascinated by the marvels of these massive ships and the precision in which they are operated. The legends maneuver from the beginning of their turn to their lines being dropped took approximately 45 minutes. I had one last quick coffee with a hazy view across the way at the mainland of Mexico and Playa Del Carmen and excursions vessels were already taking off to the south. We decided to go shopping in the Port area. Seeing nothing of interest to us we bought a bottle of vanilla as requested for DMIL and reboarded to drop it off in our room. The destinations gateway on Beyond is so well laid out and designed that it really avoids lines to get on or off the ship. After the quick stop at our room we were off to Oceanview Cafe. After grabbing a fresh chocolate croissant and another cup of coffee we enjoyed watching the Carnival Horizon and Brilliance of the Seas join us in Cozumel. We took bottles of water to fight the heat and humidity and we were heading back off to grab a cab to The Thirsty Cougar. Originally we had planned to walk but with a few clouds looking like it may provide a rain shower and the walk on google maps looks further than I remember a taxi it was to be. When getting a taxi out of the pier, if you follow the signs to taxis you will eventually get to the taxi area, but only after you have been lead past almost every shop. When exiting turn left and go to senior frogs and you will cut your walk and the shops you pass in half. After making our way to the taxi stand we were off an on our way with no wait to The Thirsty Cougar. The taxi ride for 4 of us took 10 minutes at the pre-set price of $8.00. The Thirsty Cougar is just North of the downtown pier and has an ocean side view. We had some wonderful Mexican food and even better fresh fruit margaritas. The frozen margaritas looked like an adult sundae! Drinks and lunch for four were 2600 peso using my Credit Card and asking them to run the charge as a peso the conversion rate my credit card company uses saved about $13.00 USD compared to what they were quoting on the receipt of $157 if paid in USD. The area around the restaurant was nice to walk around and tour on your own and we felt very safe. After a stroll through the area and a stop at the local 7-11 for two beers and two waters which was only $4.00USD we made our way ti the main drag and were back in a taxi for the pre-set $8.00USD fare to the pier. Most taxi operators no the location Beyond ports as the Royal Caribbean Pier. The drive back took about 15 minutes due to traffic returning to the piers. As we drove back we saw a few beachside restaurants across from the Baru which would be in walking distance we may try next time. However I would probably miss the food, atmosphere and amazing margaritas of The Thirsty Cougar. It was a perfect day and visiting downtown is something in Cozumel we had not done in ages. After our adventures we were pool side with beverage in hand at 2:00pm for a 3:30 all aboard. As we set out pool side just prior to 3:30 it began to pour. As we moved to the solarium to finish out the day the rain bouncing off the solarium rooftop was reminiscent of the high pressure rinse in the car wash. At just a few minutes after 4:00 we had left the pier we decided to go down and get ready for the evening. As we were walking into our room we had quite a shock as we were eye level to watching the pilot boats arrival. Amazing to see that exchange in such close proximity. Tonight we set sail for our last port of call Grand Cayman on this B2B and also plan on attending the 5:00pm officers gathering for Elite members and above as well as dinner at Le Voyage at an early time for us of 6:30.

I believe it is the plant plastic based on texture. The wrapper says the product is www.strawfish.co

We began to set sail at 6:45 with an all aboard at 6:30 the punctuality of the ship has been a welcome surprise. While setting sail we were pleased to listen to the cellist Magda who is just an amazing artist. During her performance at the Martini bar there were two distraction the first Le Petit’s sound track which bleeds into the Grand Plaza and the other the two cruisers to my left. As we tried to take in the evening we watched this couple complain to the bar manager about the lack of juggling with every drink and also complaining that the wonderful cellist was not playing music they like as they wanted music from the 60s or 70s. As the cellist was finishing an under appreciated version of Stings “Fields of Gold” I offered to get them a daily planner from my room so they could find music they liked. That ended the conversation…. We decided to move to another bar and picked up a good vibe again at the World Class Bar and were convinced to go see Steve Caouette again. When walking in to the comedian a long time friend of DW and I reached out who had stumbled upon our review. CL hello and thanks for following along. CL asked some great questions on our Celebrity thoughts. Average age — 65 or more for our two weeks. Entertainment — Great “we are on the flagship” Food — it is cruise ship food, despite people complaining we have gotten what we expected in main dinning rooms and premium dinning has exceeded our expectations. CL hoped I helped… When the comedy show started Tim the cruise director told us the guest count for this week is 2104. We decided to stick around for Steve with the cruise ship companions we had met up for a cocktail with and we’re glad we did. After seeing his first show last week we decided it was the same format but he plays so much off the audience that it goes in different directions within a similar framework. The comedy show ran a little late and we walked into our dinner reservation with only 2 minutes to spare. If you know me you know I do not like being late. Thankfully we were saved by a couple who I believe had know clue what they booked for dinner as they walked in 15 minutes late and for what was about to be a wonderful experience. Le Petit for us will be a one and maybe done as we probably won’t do it again but it was a great evening. We did the wine pairing with dinner and our sommelier in this venue was the best we have had in two weeks a young man from South Africa named Joshua. This young man at just over the legal US drinking age knows more about wine than I will in a lifetime. On top of his knowledge he was a great conversationalist and along with the staff helped make the dinner for the four tables who attended the late seating enjoyable. My favorite dish was the tomato tart and DW was the beet salad as we substituted the shrimp dish. On top of this Le Petit has the best short rib we have had on board so far. Saying that reminds me think that they overuse short ribs on board, so save up on eating short ribs at home before boarding. I believe the only real critique we have of Le Petit is location. Just like the music from the show could be overheard the music in the Grand Plaza the inverse was true in Le Petit. With the technology used for this show I doubt moving it is an option however I bet it would be possible to improve the sound barriers. Following the just over 90 minute dining experience including the hold time for our late friends we wandered the ship. Tonight has felt the quietest of any night, which helped us enjoy quiet conversation prior to walking the upper decks in preparation for the under the stars party at 10:45. The under star party looked like it may only be 15 of us with at least 5 being staff. This could be the reduced passenger count, average age or the fact that it was 80 degrees with 80% humidity moderate sea chop and windy. We slowly made our way back downstairs to watch and extended chandelier show as several of the martini bar tenders were now practicing for tomorrow. After hanging there for a bit it was off to bed to prepare for our arrival in Cozumel tomorrow at 0715, though if we would put the throttle down we could be there tonight by midnight. Plans in Cozumel are a throw back to previous years to go experience the downtown area despite the piers.

We still are not sure. We believe because the With Compliments card it came from one of two officers. Earlier in the day when we were waiting to dine we got into a conversation about last weeks cruise with these two officers. We shared our thoughts on a great staff member, who we also mentioned on our survey, as we witnessed them go above and beyond the normal excellence you receive from crew. It was a few hours after this interaction the surprise delivery was in our room. If it wasn’t the two officers it could be for any reason or better yet they just delivered it to the wrong room.

Today marks the 2nd port stop of 4 on the western leg of our B2B. This morning may have been the latest we arrived to the walking track and it appears our entire ship chose to sleep in today. After a few laps on the outdoor track it was time for coffee at the back of Oceanview Cafe I felt lonely for this bartista as we were the only ones at the back of the ship at 7:30 and had two order two lattes this morning. On deck this morning it is a little breezy but the sun is out and about 80 degrees. After a quick bite for breakfast and a fresh out of the oven croissant we went to get our pool gear. Unlike the previous day chairs in prime locations were still available all the way to our docking in Costa Maya. In Costa Maya we have no plans after being here several times and plan on just visiting the pier area. If you have never been to Costa Maya you can make the pier area an exciting experience but it is a very sanitized experience much like the new port Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. In addition to offering shopping, bars and restaurants, the area has several experiences on site. At few minutes before 11:00 our forward progress slowed and the Pilot Boat approached. As we then continued to approach the Pier the Ruby Princess was already in Port and we approached the pier Bow first and performed a 180 maneuver in moderate wind and chop to safely secure to the pier with the aid of the current and wind. I am always amazed at the technology at use and the amazing nimbleness that they can provide to arrive at the pier with such grace compared to me in a kayak. After the docking maneuver the ship was cleared to go ashore at 2 minutes prior to 12:00 and the open deck space of those watching our arrival cleared. DW and I chose to stay on board for a while and went shoreside using the starboard door at the destination gateway on deck 2 after a relaxing read by the pool. DW and I decided to walk the pier and enjoyed the view and the breeze while browsing. We stopped at Lucha Libre for a snack and a cocktail and were disappointed that wrestling still has not come back. Whenever we have stopped here after Covid we keep hearing 6 more months. The walk around the pier complex was nice taking in the sites and people enjoying the dolphin discovery and avery. After our walk we were back on the pool deck of the beyond as we were not scheduled to sail to Cozumel until 6:30pm. Speaking to fellow guests pool side several excursions were cancelled today due to the wind and sea conditions. As we set pool side the force of the ocean today was on display with waves striking the bow of the ship and spraying sea mist across the pier. In addition you could see the pool on deck 14 responding to the waves striking the ship while we were still secure to the pier. At 5:00pm DW and I decided we had seen enough of the Costa Mayan sun and headed down to the room to to prepare for another night on the wonderful Beyond. We have diner tonight at Le Petit Chef there is also a comedian Steve Caouette we saw last week and the cosmic Nights Deck party as we sail towards Cozumel.

I believe that is a typo as the Celebtity Signature has been the same across the four dinning rooms for each night.

Main theater shows are at 7:30 and 9:30 Eden shows are at 11:00 and events in the Club have varied a little in time.

After showers it was time to hit the Grand Plaza and specifically the Martini Bar at 6:00 tonight. At the Martini Bar a bride and groom we saw earlier in the day were partying on the dance floor with friends and family to the tunes of the Dance Band Cari Soul. After another fantastic experience at what we might consider our local watering hole after two weeks we made our way to the Casino. Walking around early tonight and at the Martini Bar everyone must be at dinner as it was quiet and table mins were even at $5.00 on some of the games which we have not seen this low. After an hour of playing roulette we had our best luck so far and had only left $1.00 in Celebrity’s coffers for tonight’s play. We went to Cyprus around 7:40pm and had no wait at all for a table. After a relaxing dinner we found the Grand Plaza busy as groups seemed to be shifting from shows to dinner and from dinner to the show. We browsed the gift shops, and stopped into the Club for the end of Majority Rules. We stopped by the room to drop off a purchase of more sunscreen and had to promise each other we would not sit down as we knew we wouldn’t make the 11:00pm show in Eden. After struggling to stay awake we had a double espresso and started a bar crawl on the way to Eden. One of the things we have noticed on the back half of this B2B is how much bar staff have moved from one location to another. I am not sure if this is normal every cruise or if we just happen to catch the wave of change. Regardless the bar service from the floor staff was noticeably better today pool side. We made it to Eden right about 10:00pm and we’re able to get great seats for the show Dreams. By about 10:30 the venue was almost full with one off chairs available and standing room. We were lucky enough to secure front row opposite the bar for this performance. The Eden cast was the same cast as last week but we had heard that one of the casts are rotating off the ship after this cruise. Regardless the Eden cast in the production of Dreams was amazing. This retelling of the Alice and Wonderland story was fun and a must do if live entertainment is something that even just mildly interest you. The casts enthusiasm for providing top notch entertainment in a small venue is palatable. This may be because where we sat but it was worth it to get to the venue early and having a few cocktails. I encourage for the Eden shows to arrive early as a poor seat in this small venue will defiantly impact your enjoyment of the performance. After the show we found ourselves walking out of Eden at 11:50 to an empty ship. With a quiet stroll through the casino and the Grand Plaza we joined are fellow cruisers in resting for our port day tomorrow in Costa Maya.

Will do we are anticipating 12:00ish based on what we heard on the announcements today.

Today marks the beginning of our first day at sea of two on this leg of the B2B. In the first leg we thought our stateroom on Deck 3 Port midship was quiet besides at porting times. It seems this is true unless they are in the kitchen early in the back of La Voyage which is a grayed out area in the deck plan of Deck 4. We have not noticed that much noise in the evening when we are getting ready. However this morning I am not sure what they were preparing in the kitchen but it was enough noise and vibration to shake the support structure outside of our stateroom. It is our hope that they prepare our upcoming anniversary dinner in a few nights with this much vigor and enthusiasm. With the early morning vibrations bearing the brunt of the roosters job it was time to get up and put a few miles under our feet on the track. As we made it to the track I was in awe and amazed at how many fellow passengers must have been up early to secure pool chairs. I wonder if they were awoken by the same rooster but were just quicker to respond to the crowing. After a few miles out of the way it was time for some relaxed reading and a Bloody Mary. If I haven’t raved yet about the Bloody Mary forgive me. No the Bloody Mary is not some feat of Gastro Pub menu balancing above inebriated tomato juice, it is just simple and consistent. Ship wide at every bar they use a Bloody Mary seasoning called Demitris. The more they put in to the tomato juice the hotter it gets but it has a consistency. It is this consistency with good bar staff that have made it great. Celebrity in this regard has set their staff up for success and I hope they will consider doing it in other areas. One such area as the morning biscuits and gravy and other buffet items. When traveling on a B2B you begin to notice little things as the rush of newness fades into total relaxation. However last week the biscuits looked like miniature hockey pucks and not like the consistency of a British cookie biscuit but that of a raw compressed flour variety. To complement these lack luster gluten cakes was gravy that may have rivaled a southern kitchen. Well for this week of the B2B they must have reassigned the biscuit maker to the gravy. Though through reassignment or practice the biscuit has become edible and looks inviting, the gravy has the consistency of milk and now has mushrooms added in instead of something to impart flavor such as sausage. I am all for staff autonomy to work within their imagination and let just the confines of the ingredients available speak to them but provide some level of training and oversight for consistency. After breakfast we made our way pool side and were able to score two chairs despite so many being held by individuals who have still not been back since we were up and moving early for a walk. We settled in for a read and sun time. At 10:00 we were greeted by Captain Kate and Cruise Director Tim with welcome news that it will get warmer as we continue west. As the sun finally began to come around we quickly were baking and looking for the bar servers to start a sea day off in style. As the day progressed the clouds left and we had a great warm and sunny day. This group of fellow friends either contained a higher percentage of sun worshipers or it is because it is our first great weather day on this leg. The pool was packed through lunch and into the afternoon more so than the week prior with less passengers. Lunch today was at the Oceanview Cafe and the specialty was Italian. Some of the puff pastries that had been made and focaccia bread was great. We both really enjoyed the cheese selection today with burata and mozzarella that was extremely fresh. After the pool activities of Water Aerobics follows by pool basketball it was time to head away from the sun for a bit and a few of our fellow sun worshipers had the same idea as the pool area really started to clear after 4:30. On my few trips through the solarium today it did not seem to be nearly as busy as the previous cruise even on warm weather days. Also the shaded walkway on the port side of the ship on deck 14 has been closed since the last Sea day last week as they are replacing light fixtures with an upgrade to LED. Last week this was a hidden gem to read or watch people stroll by when I needed a short sun break but wanted to still be close to the pool. Tonight both production casts are preforming with Stage Door in the main theater at 7:30 and 9:30 and Night of Dreams in Eden. In addition several other events are being held tonight such as the festive frisky fued adult game show and music at multiple venues. We have been active pretty much everyday and even with B2B cruises will miss some activities as we prioritize others. Tonight we do not have dinner planned so it will probably be dinner in one of the main dining room one last time before continuing our visit to the specialty venues.

That is correct and it has been wonderful. I am sure the difference is related to demographics. Both lines are owned by the same company but Royal has lifeguards and Celebrity does not. It is a risk benefit decision I am sure just like the towels.

I believe we have kept them all. I will try and take pics and post at some point but it may be easier to scan when we return home. Getting some things to upload with the premium Wi-Fi has been time consuming.

As we sailed away from Nassau into partly cloudy skies the pool area cleared as the Atlantis Resort began to fade in the horizon. DW headed to the room for a nap as I made it to the sunset bar for a cigar and to enjoy a beautiful sunset with a bourbon in hand. As I sit taking in then scenery of the sunset bar I am impressed as it is a wonderfully laid out space and much like it’s neighbor rooftop gardens is an under utilized area on the ship. One of the places that we have found the Beyond excels is spaces to read or just have a private moment taking in the seascape. The entire upper deck area has much more of a land resort atmosphere but is complemented by 360 degree views of the ocean. After enjoying the best sunset so far in our B2B it was time to prepare for a night out on the Grand Plaza. The entertainment offerings tonight include some recaps from last week including the group ukebox which we skipped and instead enjoyed supporting Celebrity Cruise lines via the casino and then off to Eden for dinner with what we thought would be a double bonus of an Acoustic Duo playing while we dined on a wonderful dinner. The dinning room in Eden with a window seat has wonderful visual atmosphere as even at night the wake is viewable as it is illuminated off the back of the ship. There was a large party seated in our immediate vicinity that was a little loud that and our location did not lend to enjoying the live music while we dined. The service in Eden from our server was wonderful instead of fretting about the menu we asked him to just bring us dinner. After he asked a few questions about food allergies he was off to orchestrate 3 wonderful courses. Our first course included 3 dishes a Truffle risotto, an Aegean Ceviche and a Crab Cake. All of these dishes stood out the texture of the risotto was perfect, the ceviche came with a coriander sorbet that brightens the entire dish, and the crab cake put the crab as the focus and not the breading. Our entrees included two dishes the Beef Filet with Mini Short Rib Wellington and the Fresh Corvina. Both of these dishes were standouts the Fresh Corvina was flaky and beautifully plated but a little heavy on the capers that brought a salt forward taste to the dish. The Filet and Short Rib were cooked to perfection and paired well with the Shiraz DW picked. Desert was another wonderful and very different 3 selections with a Meyer Lemon Tartlet, Butterscotch Brûlée and an Aztec Chocolate Tart. We had a wonderful server who had weaved an intricate pattern of dishes from start to finish by his knowledge of the menu and just when we couldn’t think about another bite he arrived with a tower of petit four to leave on our table. As we set there and finished our glasses of wine we reflected on a wonderful day in Nassau with a superb dinner and the excitement of another sea day tomorrow. We decided it might be time to head towards our stateroom. Though we were originally planning to see Decadence in Eden again it was not to be. On our way back to the room it was nice to see that our shipmates for this week had found the silent disco and the grand plaza was hopping with what seemed to be half the ship listening to individual tracks being spun by the ships 3 DJs. After taking in the atmosphere it was off to our room for a surprise. When we opened the door we were greeted with a bottle of Moët and Chocolate covered strawberries. We flirted with the idea of going back out for the night with our randomly gifted treasures but decided we would save them both for tomorrow.

It was an early morning rise for our brief stay in Nassau today. We pulled up to the Pier around 6:45 this morning and were given shoreside access just before 7:15 this morning. Docking right after us this morning where the Harmony of the Seas and the Celebrity Reflection. While we ate the Explorer of the Seas began to approach the pier and following it into port was the Carnival Paradise. It was kind of surreal thinking we have been lucky enough to have sailed on 4 of the 5 ships so far in port. Today we docked bow out again with the starboard side facing the Atlantis resort and Paradise Island. To try something new we booked an excursion in Nassau to the beach day at Blue Lagoon. Our checkin time was at 7:30 and unlike our excursion last week in St. Thomas we waited in the theater for 15 minutes until they called the first excursion time before finally being led to Deck 2 aft to exit the ship. This seemed to be delayed as Explorer needed to secure next to us as we were sharing the outside pier with them. Once we were outside we found the progress that continues to be made on the Nassau pier improvement project impressive. Docking on the outside pier is still a long walk but shade structures are going up everywhere. After the brief walk towards the end of the pier complex we boarded a double decker blue lagoon tender boat. Our excursion was joined by four other excursions from Beyond for the tender ride to Blue Lagoon. On a hot day packing that many folks on the ferry boat may make the ride miserable but with it only being 64 degrees being on the lower decks seated shoulder to shoulder with our new friends was a welcome warming surprise. Our tender left the pier at 8:15 for an approximate 30 minute ride to blue lagoon. The ride was narrated on the way and helped pass time as we explored an area we had never been before. When we arrived at Blue Lagoon we were informed our tender back would depart promptly at 12:30 for our 2:30 all aboard. After we disembarked our host walked us in line to the adults only area. Walking in line to the area almost felt like being in a kindergarten class but it was what it is. If you have never been to blue lagoon it is designed to take in as many tourists as possible with a variety of activities on the island including animal encounters with dolphins, sea lions, and sting rays as well as tours on segways, water inflatables and lots of loungers. We were the first tender to arrive and it felt quiet. The lagoon is a tidal lagoon that today due to the Atlantic waves had quite a current and made the Atlantic beaches unusable. On our walk in and subsequent exploration we found the potential for the location great but it needed a little more TLC. Examples of the needed TLC were the adults only beach chairs were so stretched out, and the un-raked beach. The experience came with lunch and a limited beverage menu which we didn’t realize either of these when we booked so the lunch and beverages were a welcome bonus experience. Lunch was a choice of fish, chicken, or beef served buffet style with plantains, rice and beans and a salad. This coupled with very attentive beach hosts who even went in fully clothed to deliver drinks made the experience. As the sun decided to visit and more passengers from other ships arrived the vibe became more lively. We also enjoyed strolling around on the island and observing the animal encounters. Though a very commercial experience with chairs that were worse than a Motel 6 mattress with springs sticking through purchased when Tim Bodet left the lights on. We have checked the box at Blue Lagoon for an adult beach day but would consider a different experience here in the future. Especially if we were looking for the animal experience or the in water inflatable park the place would have been great especially for tweens and teens. At 12:00 we began our stroll back to the tender area for boarding at 12:15 and scheduled departure at 12:30. The area back by the pier was packed with passengers from all ships and some still arriving to Blue Lagoon. We promptly left 5 minutes early to make our way back to the Nassau pier. The ride back was not narrated but still pleasant as music played. These pleasantries were only mildly disrupted by the 4 year old who needed a nap as the adult only portion of this excursion was only the beach area with the loungers from medieval times. Once arriving at the pier DW and I debated a stop at Island Republic Brewery and into Kay’s Jewlers to say hello. When we returned to pier another vessel the MSC Meraviglia had joined us in Nassau. Despite the busy pier we ventured out had a beer and a browse at Kay’s Jewelry store and made our way to Island Republic for another before boarding the beyond. We can not say enough good things about Kay’s who has locations throughout the Caribbean (different than USA chain) and the folks at Island Republic. We have been visiting both for years and have always been treated great! After a quick lunch back on board we made it to the outdoor pool deck where the new passengers who just joined us all finally found the pool deck. We were scheduled for all to be on board at 2:30pm local but based on announcements 5 minutes prior to sail away we may have been missing 2. With excitement of a young child on Christmas Eve I made my way to the magic carpet on deck 15 hoping to see pier runners. After waiting 15 minutes at the ready to watch the run it was time to return poolside as our lines started to slack so they either boarded or we would be gone before the run and we were on our way at 3:15 for a day at sea tomorrow making our way to Costa Maya. Captain Kate tried to start a horn battle but I think several of our docked piers where not interested in the game. While waiting it was sad to see the condition of the Explorer of the Seas. This ship I believe was scheduled for a dry dock that was cancelled due to Covid and has not yet occurred. From my garage point across the pier it definitely could use a shoe shine. We have fond memories of sailing on her and hope to again soon. Back by the pool bar passengers complained about the speed of service at the bar as we sailed away. I used it as an excuse to avoid joining the water aerobics class as I was lacking in liquid encouragement. Tonight dinner is at Eden which we have only heard rave reviews.

For us it was dinner on Friday after being in the Puerto Plata stop. Lobster was provided in all four dinning rooms.

Enjoy the sprint! We believe the new cast boarded with us yesterday in Nassau and will take over from the existing cast next cruise based on an announcement we are not sure which cast it is the main theater or Eden.

As we settled in for turnaround day we confirmed our dinning reservations and added Raw on 5 for tonight. Bar service reopened at 11:00 and it was nice knowing the bar menus like back of hand. Just prior to the bars opening back up Captain Kate came on board and briefed the crew with a request that they use their training and expertise to wow the next set of cruisers who will be beginning to board at 11:00 as well. The solarium was a great place to spend a chilly turnaround day after reading for a while we made our way to the martini bar and then to the concierge lunch as B2B guests. The concierge lunch options included a soup or salad followed by entree choices of salmon, pasta, or short ribs. I ordered the short ribs and DW the pasta but after seeing the salmon go by to another table wish I would have ordered the salmon as it looked great. Lunch was good and we skipped desert to make it back to the solarium and spa area. We stopped by the spa for side by side pedicures. My nail technician seemed great, but we were in the same room as someone getting a blowout so we could not hear anything but the hair dryer the majority of the time. DW thought her pedicure was a little lackluster and they were going for the upsale, she was surprised they didn’t use a base coat on her toes so we will see how long the color lasts. After we both had been pampered we took a walk around the SPA and they offered a couples pass to the Sea Thermalsuites for the week for $471, this just seemed a little rich for what it was for us so we will just turn the shower on a little hotter if we need a steam room this week. We continued to enjoy the solarium area for sail away which stared as we pulled a way from the pier for the second week at 3:50 and were clear of the channel in under 20 minutes. As we walked the upper decks we found that this sailing seemed to have either less people or less individuals interested in the pool areas. This lack of individuals could be the chilly day in Florida or it could be lower occupancy. We heard from a bartender that they were only anticipating 1700 guests this week but I have no way to qualify that or to qualify it to how many we had last week. As I finished reading for the day and less than 45 minutes from when we began sail away I made it to the pool bar were it appeared one of our fellow passengers had either become injured or fallen ill. I was instantly impressed by the speed in which Celebrity crew responded including staff from the medical center. It appears we are sailing on to Nassau so hopefully it was just a sprain or something minor. As we continued towards Nassau for our port of call tomorrow we are hoping for a warmer day and less winds as we have heard reports of ships unable to dock in the Bahamas the past few days due to high winds. However if we are going to miss a port Nassau would be ok as we have been there recently. Since we have been to Nassau so many times and have avoided Blue Lagoon we decided we should try it this time and have booked the Ultimate Beach Experience Blue Lagoon through Celebrity. In the early evening it felt like rougher seas with rocking on the ship and after getting ready we were looking forward to seeing how the Beyond’s new guest were doing getting their sea legs at the martini bar. It appeared everyone had their sea legs though a few were making the same drink package mistake I did last week. When you have the drink package it is a marathon to enjoy the scenery that goes by, try it as a sprint and your better half may give you an eye roll. After the Jazz Quartets performance we did a bar tour on our way to the theater. We found the bars generally quieter than any day we saw last week. Another bartender told us we had just under 1800 this week and last week was around 1000. Ore passengers. Regardless of the true count we can see the difference so far. Following our bar tour we decided to see Elements again in the main theater and listen to our own advice of sitting center stage. Elements was our favorite show last week and it dis not disappoint. It was odd that the production shows were in a different order this week. Thankfully elements did not disappoint this week either. Following Elements we made our way to Raw on 5 and caught the Chandler show before heading into dinner. The martini bar was the slowest we have seen during the past week. The production show seemed busy but not this or dinner at Raw on 5. Raw on 5 has approximately 21 tables and we were one of 5 tables seated the whole time. The Head Waiter said he only had 40 guests the entire evening booked at Raw. Dinner at Raw was the best meal we have had so far in 8 days and my beautiful wife DW has a shrimp allergy. We ordered Saki cocktails that were just okay, green tea that was good, the green roof tuna roll that was fresh and intricate in its presentation, hamachi that was DW favorite, the Chicken Ginger Gyoza and the Osaka style kushikatsu without shrimp. For desert we ordered the Green Tea Coconut pana cotta and the Yuzu Strawberry shortcake. We had mixed thoughts on desert but still enjoyed both. Ala carte dinner for what we orders (minus the drinks) was $71.98 as this dinner was not included in our dinning package reservations we made for the we package we had purchased. We took a stroll and stopped by a few stops who said we were at least 800 to 900 passengers less this week from what he had been told. After dinner and our stroll we decided it was time to for another stop at the martini bar. Last week at 10pm we couldn’t have found a seat, today there were only 6 of us at the actual bar. It was a little quiet tonight and DW and I didn’t want to be the life of the party and with 4 bartenders and 6 at the rail the damage was done. It was time for bed with an early morning stop in Nassau. After a short stop to visit with Herman, Francesco, Bob and Kadek (who joined the ship when we did for his 9th contract) at the Martini bar we headed to bed dreaming of pier runners in Nassau tomorrow. Today’s crowds reminded us of Covid recovery cruises from 2021.

This morning we did not pull into the pier until 7:00am. Beyond returned to Pier 25 parking nose to nose once again with a Holland America ship. The gangways were placed on deck 5 around 7:15 this morning with a flow of people off of deck 5 beginning around 7:25. At 7:50 the first announcement for luggage tags began. Joining us in port this cold 40 degeee morning is Celebrity Reflection, Holland America Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, Royal’s Harmony of the Seas and Princess’s Regal Princess. After breakfast in the cafe we walked around a bit as people were waiting in public spaces with baggage or hoping for elevators with space. We found the forward elevators had less traffic, just as they had most of the week and the solarium was under utilized to wait. Around 8:15 I checked Uber to the Fort Lauderdale airport and found prices from $18 to $35 depending on size of vehicle as we plan for next week. At 8:30 luggage tags 1-24 had been called and food service was discontinued in all of the venues accept Cafe al Bacio which was still open until at least 9:00. This morning for turn around was interesting and overall very smooth process but lacked communication at the time. All B2B passengers who wished to remain on the ship reported to the Club at 9:00 we were checked off of a list and waited while they had coffee tea and pastries out for us. At 9:10 they made the last call over the ship public address system for all passengers disembarking today. As a group of about 100 passengers we waited until 9:35 with no communication from the staff in the room. An officer at that time said bring your sea pass and passports and let’s go. We were led off the ship where they walked us in a line through the terminal and we qued to clear customs and immigration. After clearing we went back to get new sea passes and immediately back on to the ship. From the time we left the club to the time we boarded again took 25 minutes total. Though an easy process, communication with the group while people waited could have gone a long way. The other two options for those doing a B2B were to explore the area on your own or take a Fort Lauderdale excursion. B2B guests were also invited to a consecutive cruisers lunch at Tuscan at 12:00 which we may go try. We had planned to make today another sea day pool side for us but with the less than balmy weather for a second day it looks like it may be a Solarium day so we will head there for a while and enjoy the quiet ship. For our new friends who are about to join us a few tips and tricks to make the week a blast. Treat each other with respect don’t be that person who cuts everyone in a line as you feel your vacation time is more valuable than someone else. Where a watch there are hardly any public clocks on the Beyond. Sober or not please do not lean against the buttons in the elevator. Looking at the entertainment scheduled for the week it appears it will be the same guest performers so our focus on entertainment will be the shows at Eden and the Club this week with early arrivals to the show times.

Will be a bald guy at the martini bar this evening. Tell Herman the bartender to introduce you to Michael he knows me 😜

We were on no issues and no questions last week.

After getting ready for the night we made our way to listen to the Jazz quartet. As we reminisced on our first week we find it odd that most of our new friends from Beyond are thinking about packing and their departure as we prepare for another week. Even with the change in dinning to being all my time dining we have made great cruise friends. Tonight over drinks at the Martini Bar we asked several of our Celebrity friends their thoughts compared to previous Celebrity cruises they have been on. Even those on other E-class ships stated that the entertainment was the best they had experienced. Some thought this may have been a rebound from the Covid effect. When we discussed dinning most thought the food quality had gone down marginally. Without sailing Celebrity before we did not have anything to compare it to but other lines and I would put the food quality just on par with our summer cruise on Royal for included dining experiences. After visiting a little we went back to Effy to collect a charm and look at a ring one more time. In several of the islands Kay’s Jewelers has a location (not the same as the USA with every kiss) that we and the family have done business with for years. We can not say enough nice things about Kay’s but this ring was calling DW name so we wanted to look one more time before we went to Kay’s in Nassau to look next week. Afterward we went to the casino to catch-up with friends trying to win their losses back. We have considered our losses a donation to the Casino and will try and have them donate to us next week.any players this week said they felt the casino was not very generous as many were loosing. We were then off to the 7:30 show which was a group from Liverpool called Ukebox. Though a talented group of musicians they over played their schtick as you can only do so much as a ukulele boy band. After the show we met up with the same group of friends that we dined with previously and had dinner together. We got in line at 8:30 and were seated by 8:35. Tonight’s service at Cosmopolitan was a little quicker but not rushed by 9:30 we were done with dinner and chatting like old time friends. After our visit we took a photo as a group and off for a farewell cocktail. As a B2B passenger we were resigned to the fact that next week we may not meet as cool of a group of cruising companions. We were shocked at 11:00pm how much the martini bar was still hopping as we are use to the last night being quieter. After a few toasts and goodbyes DW and I were off to bed to start our last 7 days on this B2B. The second half on beyond is the western itinerary for us and we will be focusing on speciality dinning this week. Time for bed and another week on this wonderful ship. If your joining for next week say hello.

Today was the last full day before turnaround in Ft. Lauderdale. Last night the ship shifted back to east coast time from Atlantic time. Regretfully the curtains in our room did not get the memo and allowed too much light in which woke me up much earlier than needed. Cafe al Bacio opened at 6:30am for a much needed latte and it was off to the pool deck to read. This morning was very windy on the ship and several loungers were blown into the pool. I started to feel bad for someone who had left their beach bag but I had been reading for two hours and no one had been in sight when their bag went for a swim. As the morning moved on it was time for another quick coffee and a quick breakfast by 9:30am the pool deck the solarium and the Oceanside Cafe were hopping. This was probably the busiest we have experienced in Oceanside this morning. The layout of the buffet area helped make the traffic flow smoothly and even though it was packed. A made to order omelet was 5 minutes from getting in line to on our plates. At home it takes me that long to find the pan and crack the eggs. After breakfast we returned pool side and the 10:00am announcement said we would be passing a cold front around noon. And we could expect clouds on and off all day. Despite the ominous forecast the day turned out ok just a little windy and cooler than previous days. Today in the pool area we have noticed more attentive bar staff walking around. We wondered if this was because it was close to survey day or did someone complain. At the noon hour we were serenaded by Yanna a guitarist who had wonderful vocals. If you are looking for your typical steel drum band pool side we have not yet heard them or seen them in the daily guide. The individual talents on the ship are wonderful just not the vibe we anticipated. We decided to go to Eden again for lunch and skipped the Oceanside Cafe today. The other option for lunch on a sea day is the Cosmopolitan dinning room but the menu left us left than inspired when looking at the Celebrity App. Eden was once again very good and we skipped the cookie today to save room for the next 7 days. After lunch a quick stop at guest services to straighten out a billing discrepancy. Earlier in the day the line had been extremely long but we found after lunch no one to be waiting. After our stop at guest services we walked the Oceanside to see the deserts displayed and then back pool side where we could tell the temperature was dropping. We enjoyed watching pool volleyball but eventually decided it was time to find a warmer venue. The solarium was still crowded but we procured two loungers and began to read. After a leisurely time in the solarium we headed to the room to change and explore a little. As we walked around lots of folks were spread out using the hidden reading nooks or helping the casino stay ahead. We stopped by Captain Kate’s bug naked show and it was the fullest we have seen the club. After an espresso and a cookie from Cafe Al Bacio it was time to get ready for dinner.

This is from World Class

After spending the afternoon by the pool we made our way to the sunset bar to watch the sail away. The sunset may have been a sight to see from here with the island as the backdrop but as we pulled up our lines it was not to be as the clouds had other plans. After sail away we made our way to the room to get ready for an evening out. We stopped by the martini bar and got a few drinks to go and made our way to the theater early to get prime seats with some ship friends for the production show Arte. Just like the other production shows sitting in the middle of the theater if it is possible will make a world of difference as the screen is incorporated into the show. Arte was a very good production but I felt Elements was just a slightly better show. Following the show a group of 8 of us went to dinner together in Tuscan. Without a reservation we were seated within 5 minutes of our arrival. Tonight was the second Chic night which meant lobster was on the menu. The tails were of good quality and had a great cook on them as no one had the rubbery texture that an overdone lobster tail can bring. No one in our group asked for a second tail though several of us asked for an additional entree to pair the tail with. Dinner with a large group was leisurely paced but not slow and from being seated to the ending of dinner took about an hour and forty five minutes. As we finished as a group so late we knew we would not get seats in Eden so we made our way to the Club to watch the magician Matt Johnson. Matt’s show was entertaining for the portion we stayed but just like Eden the night prior we were not there early enough and it was standing room only left available. It has been great that the ship has an alive nightlife but you have to be early if you want a seat let alone a good seat in the smaller venues. After watching about half an hour of the show DW and I decided to call it a night to get some sleep and prepare for our last day at sea on the front end of our B2B.

Janie we travel often for work and pleasure. We felt very safe and besides having to say no a few times it felt fine.