[LIVE] From the Serenade of the Seas 2-12 December 2016

[realtorclm]

I saw the copy of the Cruise Compass next to weiner dog. Any chance you can take a photo of that and post it as well? TIA

Edited December 4, 2016 by realtorclm

[Chris kelowna]

Our first towel animal, a Wiener Dog!

 

 

Hahaha! how appropriate!

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

[Trainman-2]

Day 3 - Sunday - December 4, 2016 - At Sea

 

Two new photos came in late yesterday.

 

Booty

 

 

Red Dog walked with Shelly, our dog, cat, and chicken watcher, half way down to the chicken coop but then abandoned her and headed back to the front yard.

 

[Trainman-2]

Later today I will start posting the"Today's Activities" page from the daily CRUISE COMPASS.

 

Also, I will shoot a photo of the Mini Bar "ordering thingie."

 

When we arrived in our cabin the Mini Bar was empty and now there is an "ordering thingie" that you can hang on your door knob in the hallway outside the cabin and order (and be billed for) whatever you want.

[Trainman-2]

Not much "action" on the Pool Deck this morning!

 

 

[Ship Monkey]

Hi. Enjoying your review a lot!

 

Is Topi Ylönen the cruise director? We are on Serenade in one month and his current contract should be on until March according to his website. How do you like him? He's Finnish like us, which is pretty cool considering how rare it is bumbing into Finns on RCCL. Last spring my wife and I were the only guests from Finland.

[island lady]

 

Also, I will shoot a photo of the Mini Bar "ordering thingie."

 

When we arrived in our cabin the Mini Bar was empty and now there is an "ordering thingie" that you can hang on your door knob in the hallway outside the cabin and order (and be billed for) whatever you want.

 

OMG!! I am SOooo happy they are starting to do that now! Seems every other cruise

we get a small annoying charge AFTER the cruise is complete that is always a mini

bar charge, even though we have never used it, as do others quite often apparently.

Hopefully this will help end those nefarious charges and also the waste of the food

and beverages in those mini bars that just get outdated and stale. :eek: Plus

such a waste of time to have them come around to replenish or check. :(

 

Wonder if other ships are doing that yet?

Edited December 4, 2016 by island lady

[molsonschooner]

Note to all,

 

I enjoy doing the reviews!

 

and a lot us are really happy you do this. Thanks

[Trainman-2]

Fun Facts

 

 

 

 

[Trainman-2]

Senior Officers

 

 

[Trainman-2]

The COMPASS

 

Day 1

 

 

Day 2

 

 

Day 3

 

[Trainman-2]

The Mini-Bar Door Handle "Thingie"

 

 

 

 

The Room Service Menu

 

 

[Trainman-2]

Life Vests For the Kids (A Great Idea)(No Charge - Pool Area Only)

 

[Trainman-2]

Sunrise

 

 

[CapeCoralCruiser]

...When we arrived in our cabin the Mini Bar was empty and now there is an "ordering thingie" that you can hang on your door knob in the hallway outside the cabin and order (and be billed for) whatever you want.

 

OMG!! I am SOooo happy they are starting to do that now! Seems every other cruise

we get a small annoying charge AFTER the cruise is complete that is always a mini

bar charge, even though we have never used it, as do others quite often apparently.

Hopefully this will help end those nefarious charges and also the waste of the food

and beverages in those mini bars that just get outdated and stale. :eek: Plus

such a waste of time to have them come around to replenish or check. :(

 

Wonder if other ships are doing that yet?

 

I agree, when its always all-you-can-eat on the ship, why would anyone over pay for snacks from the mini bar??:confused: Always had a hard time even fitting the C&A complimentary water & soda in there. I've also had a couple mysterious small charges appear after getting home, but after spending a thousand/thousands, it felt a little petty to call about a less than $10 charge. I was going to the last time, but just plain forgot. Probably has occurred thousands of times...

 

Thanks for letting us know, T-Man.

[island lady]

I've also had a couple mysterious small charges appear after getting home, but after spending a thousand/thousands, it felt a little petty to call about a less than $10 charge. I was going to the last time, but just plain forgot. Probably has occurred thousands of times...

 

 

And you are most likely not alone. Many..many small charges to pax that either

did not want to bother disputing it, or did not notice it. Those charges got to be

quite numerous and can really add up. :eek: Something very fishy there. :(

 

I hope all ships do as Trainman found out is the case with Serenade.

[tugboat]

Sorry to hear about the subpar experience at Chops, but that seems to be what is typically reported lately.

 

We have gone one step further and been skipping the main Dinning room in favor of the windjammer the food is just as good and 4 times faster.

[island lady]

We have gone one step further and been skipping the main Dinning room in favor of the windjammer the food is just as good and 4 times faster.

 

That is what we have started doing more often also...which is what I think Jim and Judith do.

 

Go to dinner when you want, eat the portion size you prefer, no waiting in line for

your reserved table, no finding the food you ordered was not up to par or cold

and having to wait for a replacement, and a lot more choices. We also find if we

go later at night, it is much more quiet than the MDR. Many high end officers in there

dining also.

 

We have even gone there on formal nights, dressed to the max with tux and cocktail dress. ;)

Edited December 4, 2016 by island lady

[EatonDoolittle]

 

I hope all ships do as Trainman found out is the case with Serenade.

 

Oasis cabin cooler was empty last month. Agree, it is how it should be.

 

No more need to remove and store all their stuff, and hope that you do not get "accidently" charged for something.

 

Trainman - a favor, if possible:

Good to hear the ship changed time - they did not last month on the Oasis, and it was strange.

Please confirm that you are in St. Maarten 7A to 4P local time. I'm doing this Itinerary in Jan as part of a B2B, and a 4P departure would require planning in regards to private excursions.

Thanks, love the reports.

[island lady]

Oasis cabin cooler was empty last month. Agree, it is how it should be.

 

No more need to remove and store all their stuff, and hope that you do not get "accidently" charged for something.

 

 

Yes, the "accidently" part was happening a lot more than people realize. Someone,

or several someones, were making out pretty well on those accidents. ;)

Edited December 4, 2016 by island lady

[truffles2]

I see you have Topi for cruise director. How do you like him? I thought he was great on the Vision....always out there!

[msmayor]

The Mini-Bar Door Handle "Thingie"

 

 

 

 

The Room Service Menu

 

 

 

 

Someone didn't do a good job with the math on the soda prices. You can get 6 cans for $12 but double the number of cans and pay not $24, but $32??

[island lady]

Someone didn't do a good job with the math on the soda prices. You can get 6 cans for $12 but double the number of cans and pay not $24, but $32??

 

RCI math...they hope you won't notice. ;) :p

[kandj05]

Senior Officers

 

 

You just made my day by showing me Cornelis is the F&B mgr on this ship. If you get a chance would you ask him if he will be on board for the Feb 24, 2017 sailing?

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forums mobile app

[island284]

If I remember correctly you always mentioned the smoking area on the ship's you were cruising on. I haven't notice it this time. Nine of us will be on in January and two of them are smokers. Could you advise as to where this is allowed? Please, let's not get in a discussion about this . . . I told them I would ask so they know ahead of time. Thank you.