Just got off Serenade on a 7 day Alaska Cruise...quick review

[stamphappy]

We were given the tracelet 'watch' as well as a white stretchy band.  We had to wear both at all times unless we were in our cabin.  The band signified that we were vaccinated and the tracelet was used for contract tracing.  

 

Windjammer buffet--we could not serve ourselves, they had staff serving us every item.  

 

All areas had half the tables available.  The other half had signs that said "Reserved" so that no one could sit on them.  Bar stools were all off limits.  

 

There were about 850 passengers on board and no matter where we were visited on the ship, it was very quiet due to lack of guests.  

 

There was only one show each night rather than the typical early and late show.  Also, there was no Quest Game or other interactive events.  

 

Trivia and other games were done with paper/pencil, no sharing with others to correct papers and whatnot.  There were no special classes or wine tastings, etc...

 

There were no special nights, no BBQ on the lido deck, etc..  We did have 2 "formal" nights in the Main Dining Room. 

 

Our cabin was cleaned 2x per day.  

 

Every night between 2am-4am (or thereabouts) they did a machine-type disinfectant along all corridors.  

 

Please ask if you have any other questions.  

 

 

[discru]

Thank you for sharing!!  I have a couple questions.... Bar stools at even the vaccinated bars were off limits?  Did you use the Port Valet service?  Was there some sort of crowd control for getting off the ship in ports?

[stamphappy]

1 hour ago, discru said:

Thank you for sharing!!  I have a couple questions.... Bar stools at even the vaccinated bars were off limits?  Did you use the Port Valet service?  Was there some sort of crowd control for getting off the ship in ports?

The casino and Vintages Bar were the only bar stools that could be used.  All the other bars and the coffee shop bar stools were off limits.  During the day, Safari Club is used for Trivia games and whatnot so they had the 'every other table occupied' signs but late at night Safari Club opened up their seating as well.  We assume that was because there were no children allowed in the Safari Club later at night.

 

RE: Port Valet Service  -- Not sure what this is, so I assume we weren't privy to it.  We hired a taxi to take us to the Pier.  Porters immediately took our luggage and placed it onto the boat while we waited at the Pier for several hours for our specific time to be called (we were early).  They were not allowing anyone to go early--you went during your time and your time only.    

 

Leaving the theatre was done in sections to keep large clusters of people from happening.  

 

There wasn't crowd control per se leaving to go into town.  The ship only had 850ish guests, so there was no issue.  Everyone played by the rules and were cognizant of social distancing.  

[discru]

Thank you so much for the info!!    How much did taxi charge?  From pier to airport?  I'm surprised the bar stools in Solarium were not open for seating...especially if the casino was.  Not sure the difference....  We will be on Ovation, but I'm guessing things might be similar.  

 

I have not used Port Valet, but supposedly it is a service (they claim letter will be in stateroom) where you can leave your luggage out the last night, and the service will take your luggage to the airport, and check it in for you, so that the next time you see your luggage again is when you arrive at your home destination.  Keeps you from having the schlep it around Seattle until you fly out to go back home, and saves time at the airport when you go to fly back home..  I inquired with the port about this yesterday, and they said it was running....although I have not been able to preregister, so not sure if I believe them.

 

Were the ports deserted, or lively with shops open?

[Sunshine3601]

Was the casino open to vaccinated only and did you have to wear a mask in the casino?

[flpenguin]

So how was Alaska?? If you did excursions-which ones?? We just booked for next Sept. on the Serenade.  This will be our 3rd Alaska cruise-2nd on the Serenade.  We've never been to Sitka or Haines. Thanks in advance for the review

 

[Jimbo]

12 hours ago, stamphappy said:

We were given the tracelet 'watch' as well as a white stretchy band.  We had to wear both at all times unless we were in our cabin.  The band signified that we were vaccinated and the tracelet was used for contract tracing.  

 

Windjammer buffet--we could not serve ourselves, they had staff serving us every item.  

 

All areas had half the tables available.  The other half had signs that said "Reserved" so that no one could sit on them.  Bar stools were all off limits.  

 

There were about 850 passengers on board and no matter where we were visited on the ship, it was very quiet due to lack of guests.  

 

There was only one show each night rather than the typical early and late show.  Also, there was no Quest Game or other interactive events.  

 

Trivia and other games were done with paper/pencil, no sharing with others to correct papers and whatnot.  There were no special classes or wine tastings, etc...

 

There were no special nights, no BBQ on the lido deck, etc..  We did have 2 "formal" nights in the Main Dining Room. 

 

Our cabin was cleaned 2x per day.  

 

Every night between 2am-4am (or thereabouts) they did a machine-type disinfectant along all corridors.  

 

Please ask if you have any other questions.  

 

 

Doesn't sound even close to normal or enjoyable with such a small amount of people onboard. Sounds like alot of the things we so enjoyed are no longer available or greatly limited.

 

Only thing thats sounds like it was back to normal was the Alaska scenery?

Edited August 10, 2021 by Jimbo

[flamingos]

Did you do the Alaska week before the cruise?  I was wondering if that is up and running as normal.

[Biker19]

51 minutes ago, LynnForestgate said:

Thanks so much, and it was well written.

Welcome to CC.

[stamphappy]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Welcome to CC.

Casino--you did not need to wear a mask while in the casino, but if you were traveling through it, people kept their masks on. 

Solarium--the bar was not open.  

The card room/library was not open.

Masks needed to be worn walking in hallways; on elevators; on top floor of the theater (it was the family/kid floor) but not the bottom floor.  No need for masks when outside.  

 

There was one 'big' show each night at 9:15pm. 

 

Taxi--we were at the Seattle Ferry Terminal.  Tried to get an uber to RCCL port to no avail.  A taxi saw us and quoted us the same price ($27) as the uber.  We assumed it was the going rate, so we paid it (and he never turned on his meter). BUT coming home--from the RCCL port to the Ferry-- the taxi had his meter on and it was only $13.  Our mistake totally!  

 

Ports of Call---yes, most all shops were open.  Here and there some shops were permanently closed.  It appeared to me (just from casual observation) that perhaps the 'ma & pa' type individually owned shops didn't make it and they were the ones not open.  The ports were beautifully kept, lots of flower pots, hanging flowers, etc...  We were the only 'big' ship in each port, so each port was very quiet.  So lively--not really, but certainly quite friendly.  

 

We did not do any excursions as we've been to Alaska several times so we just walked off the ship and meandered around the towns.  The tram was open in Juneau and we did that as the weather was perfect that day.

 

We did not do the "Alaska week before the cruise" flamingos.  Seattle itself was up and running, busy as ever, lots of cars, people, construction (hahaha).  

[discru]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all our questions!!  Sounds like a wonderful time!!

[bouhunter]

3 hours ago, flamingos said:

Did you do the Alaska week before the cruise?  I was wondering if that is up and running as normal.

We're flying to Alaska in a couple weeks, will try to remember to post a report when we return 🙂

 

[Ashland]

Was the WJ open for dinner at all ? Any problem just getting off ship and walking through the port towns?

[ticketsunlimited]

3 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Doesn't sound even close to normal or enjoyable with such a small amount of people onboard. Sounds like alot of the things we so enjoyed are no longer available or greatly limited.

 

Only thing thats sounds like it was back to normal was the Alaska scenery?

[stamphappy]

8 hours ago, Ashland said:

Was the WJ open for dinner at all ? Any problem just getting off ship and walking through the port towns?

There were no issues getting off the boat and into ports.  Actually, we were told masks would be required once we stepped into town, but no townsfolk were wearing masks outdoors.  Indoors all wore masks. 
 

Windjammer was not open for dinner, they closed at 3:30pm.  Park Cafe, though,  was open 3-6pm and again 8:30-11:30pm. 

[tas246]

12 hours ago, stamphappy said:

Windjammer was not open for dinner, they closed at 3:30pm.  Park Cafe, though,  was open 3-6pm and again 8:30-11:30pm. 

Yikes, seems like not a lot of options for those who don't frequent the main dining room....

[TiiiSailor]

"Every night between 2am-4am (or thereabouts) they did a machine-type disinfectant along all corridors."

 

Which corridors were cleaned during this late night cleaning?  If the stateroom corridors, was it loud enough to wake passengers? 

Thank you.

[2travelcats]

Hello and thanks for sharing -

 

Were the free, men's and women's saunas and steam rooms open?

 

These are the ones that open off the dressing rooms.

 

Thanks!

[stamphappy]

Steam rooms & saunas were not open.  

 

They didn't tell us which corridors were being cleaned each night, but no, we never heard anything.  If they are like the cleaners where I teach (school), it's just a big machine on wheels that sprays out a fine mist.  

 

Main Dining Room was quite casual for dress code.  Even on the formal nights people were wearing flannel and fly fishing short sleeve shirts.  I don't remember seeing any shorts at the MDR during dinner.  

[juneaugold]

Glad to hear you had a great cruise! We are still very sad we had to cancel, not being able to get our test scheduled in time. Would have loved to bump that passenger count up by two...