Notes from NS 4-17-22 Trans-Atlantic

[JennysUncle]

Fine weather for the whole crossing and continued to Barcelona. Smooth seas and temperate sunny weather. There are 1540 passengers.

On April 28 the ship reverted to mandatory masks except while eating or drinking. There are three quarantine zones, two on deck 4 and one on 5, about a dozen in each, running forward from the aft elevators.

No plastic bottles allowed onboard.

Water is available in 12 oz pop-top cans or 16 oz screw-top cans.

The Signature beverage was advertised, and still says online, that water up to 500 ml is included, but onboard there is a notice that water over 12 oz is not. Confirmed by the Beverage Manager, without apology. Pop-tops are not good for tours.

There is a Cruise and Travel Director who makes announcements and introductions and does the morning interview.

There is now an Entertainment staff of four. A Lead Entertainment Host, two Entertainment Hosts, and the Club HAL Host. One of the EHs shifts to help in Club Hal if there are a lot of kids. The Lead seems to essentially be doing the job of the old passenger-interacting Cruise Director. 

There is still smoking in the Casino, although there do not seem to be many smokers. It stinks, compounded by a chemical smoke-smell-killer, and the smell bleeds into the Music Walk. 

Edited April 30, 2022 by JennysUncle
Adding info

[Dunmore2]

Thanks for the information. Enjoy the remainder of your cruise. 

[VMax1700]

Currently the Signature Beverage Pack excludes the 16 oz bottle.....

 bottled water (sparkling or still, 400ml or less)

 

(400 ml = 13.5 fluid oz)

[kapitch]

We are on this cruise, and it has been fantastic.  The entertainment has been out of this world in my opinion, specifically, the BB Kings Blues Club band and the Rolling Stones Rock Room band.  However, the smoking in the casino is unenjoyable.  We've noticed smokers not playing, but smoking only, and despite only a few smokers in the area, enough to permeate the air in the casino and ultimately, our clothing.  It is hard to believe in today's health-conscious world that smoking is allowed in an enclosed indoor environment.  Aside from that, the Club Orange staff has been amazing and we found the experience wonderful.  Despite the masking requirement after Co-vid positive cases being announced, there are still passengers refusing to mask up.  The quarantine rooms, located near our cabin, seem to be occupied now, so more of a reason to wear a mask onboard, which we have done the entire cruise.  Why risk the need to quarantine and miss valuable days of the cruise?

 

Kathy

[JennysUncle]

At Barcelona the When & Where changed from 6x18 trifold to 9x11.5 vertical. The special dinners changed from Gala to Dressy.

[raesive]

Was on the leg to Barcelona, also loved the Rock Room band. The Billboard pair was ok, but the better of the two (Ivy) got off when we did as her contract was up. Hopefully her replacement is as good.

 

Service was mostly good, but sometimes it was difficult to flag a waiter down for drinks in the pool areas. 

 

Food was always great, and most days at lunch there was a Lido station with completely different options for the day: dim sum, Dutch/German meats and sauerkraut, Portuguese charcuterie...

 

Agree on the smoking being annoying- why the smokers area in the casino is located in the main walking path confounds me 

 

It was a great crossing!

[VMax1700]

2 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

At Barcelona the When & Where changed from 6x18 trifold to 9x11.5 vertical. The special dinners changed from Gala to Dressy.

EU regulations.  Directive # HAL 2022/1/EU

(Only joking!) 😉