Mostly Live From August 21-28 Alaska Sailing

[kam-ky]

2 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

Here’s some photos of Lido at breakfast 

Are any of the Lido stations self-serve?  Can you get your own coffee or tea?  Thanks!

[roxybear135]

We’ve been wearing our masks everywhere inside except when we’re actually eating and drinking but I can’t say the same of everyone else. For example, at the casino last night, there were very few people sitting at the tables who were actually wearing masks and I didn’t see many of them drinking. The crew were all double masked and we chose to sit at a table by ourselves which was easy to do because the place was pretty empty so we didn’t have to deal with being right next to people who were unmasked. 
 

I decided it’s better to be honest and let people know how things are actually going on board rather than sugarcoat things so everyone can make an informed decision about whether they feel comfortable traveling or not. I don’t feel uncomfortable at all on board but know some might. Overall we’re having a great time so far. 

[roxybear135]

Just now, kam-ky said:

Are any of the Lido stations self-serve?  Can you get your own coffee or tea?  Thanks!

We haven’t eaten there but from walking through a few times I don’t think anything is self serve anymore. The drink areas are roped off and appear to be only for the staff to access. 

[atexsix]

5 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

Here’s some photos of Lido at breakfast 

Glad to see plenty of bacon, couldn't handle what Carnival is doing, it's a staple for us and breakfast is our favorite meal.

 

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by atexsix

[atexsix]

1 minute ago, roxybear135 said:

We haven’t eaten there but from walking through a few times I don’t think anything is self serve anymore. The drink areas are roped off and appear to be only for the staff to access. 

Please let us know if drink service in the Lido is prompt, it's been good on past cruises but now they have more people to serve.

[atexsix]

4 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

We’ve been wearing our masks everywhere inside except when we’re actually eating and drinking but I can’t say the same of everyone else. For example, at the casino last night, there were very few people sitting at the tables who were actually wearing masks and I didn’t see many of them drinking. The crew were all double masked and we chose to sit at a table by ourselves which was easy to do because the place was pretty empty so we didn’t have to deal with being right next to people who were unmasked. 
 

I decided it’s better to be honest and let people know how things are actually going on board rather than sugarcoat things so everyone can make an informed decision about whether they feel comfortable traveling or not. I don’t feel uncomfortable at all on board but know some might. Overall we’re having a great time so far. 

We sail in two weeks, so I very much appreciate the information this close to sailing.  We plan on social distancing and doing less in public areas, we upgraded to a verandah with that in mind.  

 

Someone mentioned lack of masks in the casino for last week's sailing too, hope ventilation in that area is good, otherwise we might avoid walking through there.

[KirkNC]

30 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

But if everyone if fully vaccinated, why do you need to wear a mask?  

Because those are the rules established by the cruise line and agreed to by the passengers who boarded.

[KirkNC]

13 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

We’ve been wearing our masks everywhere inside except when we’re actually eating and drinking but I can’t say the same of everyone else. For example, at the casino last night, there were very few people sitting at the tables who were actually wearing masks and I didn’t see many of them drinking. The crew were all double masked and we chose to sit at a table by ourselves which was easy to do because the place was pretty empty so we didn’t have to deal with being right next to people who were unmasked. 
 

I decided it’s better to be honest and let people know how things are actually going on board rather than sugarcoat things so everyone can make an informed decision about whether they feel comfortable traveling or not. I don’t feel uncomfortable at all on board but know some might. Overall we’re having a great time so far. 

Thank you for your honesty and full disclosure!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

37 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

But if everyone if fully vaccinated, why do you need to wear a mask?  

RULES         PLEASE  don't ruin it for everyone else ..

[woodworker&knitter]

25 minutes ago, atexsix said:

Glad to see plenty of bacon, couldn't handle what Carnival is doing, it's a staple for us and breakfast is our favorite meal.

 

 

What’s Carnival doing??

[12cruise2]

50 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

Here’s some photos of Lido at breakfast 

Do you think there is enough crew behind the main line providing pastries and entrees available to serve us in the Lido?  BC, it wasn't always the case.  Now, I'm assuming crew serves everything, so do they have enough staff behind the service line to help?  Thank you for your help.

[12cruise2]

30 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

RULES         PLEASE  don't ruin it for everyone else ..

Amen to that--please follow the rules.

[roxybear135]

1 minute ago, 12cruise2 said:

Do you think there is enough crew behind the main line providing pastries and entrees available to serve us in the Lido?  BC, it wasn't always the case.  Now, I'm assuming crew serves everything, so do they have enough staff behind the service line to help?  Thank you for your help.

Each time I’ve walked through the Lido it’s been so empty that there would be no issues getting served promptly with whatever you want. Even if it was a bit more crowded, I don’t think service would be an issue because there are 1-2 people at least behind each serving station. I’ve only stopped to look at food a couple of times and each time the staff instantly asks if I would like anything so I wouldn’t worry about service issues there. 

[canadianbear]

Really enjoying your review.  It’s been wonderful having so many on the Alaska cruises reporting on here.  Honestly, I feel like I’m on vacation with you! (Except I have to cook, clean, do laundry 😂😂)

[luvteaching]

Good morning, 

 

I just got off the NA (and yes, it's back to reality). The Lido is fully staffed and I had no waits at all to get served unless others were in front of me. The coffee/tea/hot water area is roped off during peak times and only staff can serve you but during non-peak times you can serve yourself there. I saw two people reach through the shields and one picked up a whole piece of fruit and left and the other got two hard-boiled eggs. Other than that I didn't see anyone trying to serve themselves. All the tongs are placed so that the server is the only one who can get them. I was impressed by the service in the Lido. 

 

On the mask note, we had our Meet and Greet and had several officers/heads of departments come thanks to Bart the Hotel Manager. Glenn, Bart's assistant, stayed for a few extra minutes and got cornered by one couple about why the masks weren't being more enforced by the staff but I didn't fully hear his response. 

 

Karen

[roxybear135]

Just to add a bit more to the masks issue - people have been very good about wearing masks on the elevators and into and out of restaurants but as far as walking around the rest of the ship, I would say those portions have maybe half the people wearing masks. The ship has seemed empty enough to us that you shouldn’t have trouble social distancing. Honestly the mask thing hasn’t seemed any different than going to a grocery store where I always am diligent about wearing a mask and keeping a distance from others but I can’t say the same about everyone else. The ship looks spotlessly clean (and we’ve seen staff cleaning around the clock) and you can even smell the disinfectant as you walk around places so we haven’t been concerned about things so far as it relates to covid. 

[Diver2014]

14 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

 

  OMG - it's not raining in Seattle!  (the one reason I don't live there anymore).  Ah, the Lido.  Loved the Lido on every HAL ship we've been on. 

[Love the beach]

Have a wonderful cruise....thanks for taking us along!

[SusieKIslandGirl]

46 minutes ago, Diver2014 said:

  OMG - it's not raining in Seattle!  (the one reason I don't live there anymore).  Ah, the Lido.  Loved the Lido on every HAL ship we've been on. 

Oh how we'd all love some rain about now. Even my dandelions are brown! We had 5 minutes of a very light mist last week but haven't seen real rain for months!

[KAKcruiser]

I'm not saying that I wouldn't wear a mask if those were the rules I agreed to.  I was just wondering what changed between the first cruise when masks were not required and then the third or fourth cruise when they were.  

[dfish]

3 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

I'm not saying that I wouldn't wear a mask if those were the rules I agreed to.  I was just wondering what changed between the first cruise when masks were not required and then the third or fourth cruise when they were.  

 

We learned more about the Delta Variant and how vaccinated people can transmit the virus.  The CDC came out with guidance saying masks should be worn in indoor places vaccinated or not.   As we learn more, we adjust what we are doing to protect everyone's health.  Personally, I like that HAL is doing what they are doing to keep me healthy.  

[12cruise2]

1 hour ago, luvteaching said:

Good morning, 

 

I just got off the NA (and yes, it's back to reality). The Lido is fully staffed and I had no waits at all to get served unless others were in front of me. The coffee/tea/hot water area is roped off during peak times and only staff can serve you but during non-peak times you can serve yourself there. I saw two people reach through the shields and one picked up a whole piece of fruit and left and the other got two hard-boiled eggs. Other than that I didn't see anyone trying to serve themselves. All the tongs are placed so that the server is the only one who can get them. I was impressed by the service in the Lido. 

 

On the mask note, we had our Meet and Greet and had several officers/heads of departments come thanks to Bart the Hotel Manager. Glenn, Bart's assistant, stayed for a few extra minutes and got cornered by one couple about why the masks weren't being more enforced by the staff but I didn't fully hear his response. 

 

Karen

Yay that someone is cornering HAL staff re mask wearing.  Next, corner the Capt. with polite letters.

[LawDog61]

3 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

We’ve been wearing our masks everywhere inside except when we’re actually eating and drinking but I can’t say the same of everyone else. For example, at the casino last night, there were very few people sitting at the tables who were actually wearing masks and I didn’t see many of them drinking. The crew were all double masked and we chose to sit at a table by ourselves which was easy to do because the place was pretty empty so we didn’t have to deal with being right next to people who were unmasked. 
 

I decided it’s better to be honest and let people know how things are actually going on board rather than sugarcoat things so everyone can make an informed decision about whether they feel comfortable traveling or not. I don’t feel uncomfortable at all on board but know some might. Overall we’re having a great time so far. 

Well, after all, the people in the casino are gamblers!

[ATC]

13 minutes ago, LawDog61 said:

Hopefully they and the people they interface with won't become serious losers.

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

@roxybear135 I would love to know the number of passengers on board, it sounds like it could be less than last week which was less than previous weeks. I am not so sure that the most passengers were ther first week of July 24th which HAL had originally stated would have the least.