No particular order to the following - and I'll add more as I think of it.
Yacht Club experience was nice, albeit the potential was hobbled by the Expedia "partial ship takeover". At least we managed 1 specialty dinner - Butcher's Cut. Cheryl and I gave the Tomahawk Chop a try - and could not finish it, though it was tender (one of the only things on the menu advertised as dry aged - nothing was noted as being Prime grade).
I had the crab cakes as a starter. Quite good (I left nothing on the plate), but it paled in comparison to my favorite (Rudi's Seagrill on the Mardi Gras - Crab cakes entrée).
Cheryl enjoyed the goat cheese souffle
For dessert, I opted for the chocolate chip peanut butter cookie. I was ok, a tad dry. I think it would have been better if they'd skip the peanut butter component ! My favorite dessert is still that which is found on Celebrity Reflection (Lawn Club Grill) - fresh baked hot/chocolate chip cookie w/ice cream. Here is the Seaside version, followed by the one on Celebrity Reflection.
Dinner (YC) final (night 3) menu:
In retrospect, I'm happy that we didn't get a spot in Ocean Cay on the third night, as the dinner in the YC was excellent - I had two orders of escargot (the best I've had in years - reminiscent of my early memories on Carnival), and I've had many versions in between. First off, if you give me a crispy garlic toast point, you're off to a good start!
Cheryl really enjoyed the (Maine?) lobster and the Twice-Baked Blue Cheese Soufflé:
I finished up (skipping dessert) with a succulent/rare foie gras topped tenderloin:
As I had mentioned, we were locked out on our balcony for about 15 minutes (that's to my text to @DGP1111 , who then called guest services for us). I thought that might give us a leg up for Ocean Cay reservations that evening, but instead it resulted in the following:
Our cabin (16002) was ok - a little tight in spots, inadequate and not comfortable balcony furniture (two chairs and 1 footstool). Nice, ample sized rain shower - though the temperature fluctuated noticably each day it was used. The location, relative to the Top Sail Lounge was, bar none, ideal. Probably 10 steps from our door and you were at the bar - thanks to a door at the end of the hallway that we never saw anyone else utilize (as if it was our own private passage).
The first thing we did when we arrived in the cabin was to set the AC control to MORGUE levels 😄 The room stayed between 63-66 all three days, though the humidity was higher than I normally see (at sea).
About the only downside to our cabin location was the fact that you couldn't see the lighthouse (one of the reasons we booked starboard side). Not a biggie though - you could see out over the rest of the island nicely.
We had booked a "regular" cabana (early after our initial booking, prior to upgrading to the YC). We kept it as we were sharing it with a cruising friend who was not in the YC. It was quite a trek over there (even with the cart ride to the first point) and it was SUNNY and HOT.. no surprise there, other than over the 3 nights we had just under 5 inches of rain at home -- and saw none during the cruise other than during embark and debark. We had cabana #2 (seen in this image). Most of the breeze was to our backs - with a little coming through the slats - so it was a bit uncomfortable. I prefer my cabanas with AC ! 😉
Internet on the ship was of good quality (did not upgrade to the higher package, it was not necessary - and I was able to stream Siruis successfully in our cabin, and enjoyed at levels so as not to disturb our neighbors. On the island - it was not quite as good, as could be expected. I was not even able to get over -90 dBm in our cabana, but it was strong enough at the YC restaurant there to get decent service (images below taken during our lunch there):
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BTW, the lobster roll there was VERY good - generous large chunks of lobster. The burger was tasty too - they brought it at the requested RARE temp, even though they could not promise anything but medium or (more).
Night 1 in the YC restaurant:
Though I had high hopes, the Fire-Roasted Tomato Cream Soup was disappointing (grainy). I opted for the filet, it was good. Cheryl enjoyed the scallops starter.
This info card was in our cabin, but the requested vodka did not arrive until after dinner on night 2. That's ok - with the bar right outside our door, we brought it home!
Also the prices for those bottles, if purchased, are WAY less than other lines ... now by nearly $100 !
Day two (Friday) YC dining times onboard:
I make a point to try Eggs Benedict on every ship - and, frankly, this was one of the best I've enjoyed in years. Rarely is the English muffin so soft and easily cut. The hollandaise was fresh, the eggs not overcooked - and lemon slices provided (at request) gave it that necessary zest ! The hashbrowns, on the other hand, one bite and DONE... lukewarm and pasty (best way to describe it).
I played BJ in the casino on two evenings (night 1 and 3). Ended up getting a little back on the second night. All in all, not a high price paid for the entertainment. I asked at the cage when I cashed out and was told I had earned a little over 3,000 points. I'm not sure if that was a "real time" figure or not. I probably put in less than 6 hours of play total. I was playing at the $25 table, and I can't recall seeing quite this number of people (with several hundred or more "in hand") that didn't know how to play the game. Examples: Standing on your A-A-5 against an 8, and losing. Doubling (yes, you heard that right) your 7's against a 9.. and winning. Splitting 5's against a 5 (and losing). It just never stopped. Internally, my eyes rolled over and over. I was shocked to see that they offered surrender - I play two hands, averaging $50/hand. Upon getting a 16 and 17 against the dealer's A, I asked, and they said YES. I surrendered. I don't think anyone ever takes them up on it, but the pit boss explained it to them. I saved half my bet that hand. I would go on to surrender twice more (mostly with "better than it would have been" results). BTW, it would seem they don't have, or at least don't often use, purple chips. If they did - the fellow with a FULL TRAY of blacks could have used them last night at first base. Even he hesitated on many obvious basic strategy plays. I'm the only one who hits my 12 on the dealer 2 or 3. I'm the only one who hits my A-7 vs dealer 9-10-A (take a shot!), etc...
Awaiting the word (for self assist debarkation this morning) in the Top Sail Lounge - at perhaps 6:45. A severe line of storms was bearing down, and we got off/to our car just before the skies really opened up.
Daily programs to come later...
