LIVE! Venezia Maiden Voyage 5/29 - Let’s Cruise!

[phoneman69]

I have not seen you address this yet so ill ask. Is pixel studio photos digital (you get a thumb drive) or are they printing photos and you pick them off the wall in the pixels area ? Purchased the 10 photo package for our upcoming Venezia cruise. PS hope he won at the horse races.

[TravelBluebird]

51 minutes ago, phoneman69 said:

I have not seen you address this yet so ill ask. Is pixel studio photos digital (you get a thumb drive) or are they printing photos and you pick them off the wall in the pixels area ? Purchased the 10 photo package for our upcoming Venezia cruise. PS hope he won at the horse races.

 

Digital!  No photos on the wall, just the digital screens, and you get them in your app to look at as well (although we keep getting other families photos, so that is not a perfect system).

 

He did win the horse race! $13 on a $2 bet.

[TravelBluebird]

Fog horn blew quite a bit overnight. But we woke up to the SUN! And 48 degrees. Brrr.

[phoneman69]

19 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

Digital!  No photos on the wall, just the digital screens, and you get them in your app to look at as well (although we keep getting other families photos, so that is not a perfect system).

 

He did win the horse race! $13 on a $2 bet.

thank you

[TravelBluebird]

It must be the 6th Sea Day in a row ‘cause I’m finally playing BINGO!

 

Then again we did win $25 of Bingo from Deal or No Deal.

 

Attended WAVE Morning Show AND THE Captain// Officer Q and A. 
 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Captain said there were a pod of whales on the port side of ship during Bingo. I threw the Bingo cards at DH and ran so fast out of there it would have made your heads spin!

Saw several spouts and the 2 whales come up, but not close enough for a good photo.But i did get to see whales from a cruise ship for the first time (I’ve seen them up in Alaska on a cruise expedition).

 

We did not win Bingo. 

 

Fog came back right after the whale sightings.

 

Had a Guy’s Burger for lunch (wanted La Strada but it was too cold out for me after whale watching).

 

Attended the Groove For St. Jude’s.  Bought T shirts and grooved (danced). $24,000 was raised!  But not enough to have MarQ and senior officers polar plunge. That pool is COLD.  The retractable roof on the Lido has definitely come in handy this journey.

 

Edited a video then off to dinner soon, and Color My World, a show I have not yet seen but have heard good things about!

[phoneman69]

how did the arrival in Canada Go ? Did you two get off the ship and stretch your legs after 6 sea days ? Down to 8 days for us just cant wait. Loving the info you have shared 

[phoneman69]

Is the wifi still running fast now that you reached North America ?

[abbeydoo]

Thanks for your great review so far.

 

Can I please ask how was the Terrazza Cabana area, especially in the evening, with regard to random people wandering past Cabanas? Although I am excited to be booked in one later this year, videos suggest there is not a physical barrier like a card entry system between Terrazza Carnivale and the cabanas, is that correct? 

[TravelBluebird]

17 hours ago, phoneman69 said:

how did the arrival in Canada Go ? Did you two get off the ship and stretch your legs after 6 sea days ? Down to 8 days for us just cant wait. Loving the info you have shared 

 

Thank you, and Yes, we definitely got off the ship in Halifax after 6 sea days! It was glorious weather finally; SUN and warm.  We had a great day in Halifax; took a small van historical tour focusing on the Titanic and the Great Halifax Explosion; was wonderful! More info to follow.

 

I didn’t post yesterday because we were so busy on the tour and didn’t get back to the ship till 4:30…and then right during dinner I started to not feel well. Low fever and scratchy throat. Not Covid thank goodness, but I fell asleep right after dinner till this morning.  I have what I call The Cruise Crud. Just glad it waited till the last day or so!

 

Mostly staying in room today; masking up and trying to not pass this on.  

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

17 hours ago, phoneman69 said:

Is the wifi still running fast now that you reached North America ?

 

Yes; so good that today I was finally able to upload a video to my You Tube channel (couldn’t do it for some reason the last 3 days…I think everyone has just been on the system, then this morning everyone was packing when I tried again.  That said, overall the internet was fine the last 3 days; I just need a long connection with no glitches to get those darn videos uploaded.

 

The video is the next in my Walking Tours series—Serenity Deck. I have one more for everything else above Lido—Deck 11 with nooks and crannies and games (Bocce!), ropes course, splash zone, arcade, etc. Then I’ll have reviews, Il Viaggio, Chef’s Table, etc.

 

Overall this has been a GREAT cruise. I watched the Wave show from my room this morning and got all teary eyed when MarQ quoted Dr. Seuss: “don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened” or something like that…great cruise, I am a little emotional today!

 

Anyway, here is the video and thanks to EVERYONE for following along on this long 18 day LIVE! Odyssey!  I’ll post more on Halifax and last night’s dinner etc today.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

One nice little surprise—Terrazza Rooms get priority disembarkation, so we had Group 3 tags delivered to our room this morning. YAY!

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

4 hours ago, abbeydoo said:

Thanks for your great review so far.

 

Can I please ask how was the Terrazza Cabana area, especially in the evening, with regard to random people wandering past Cabanas? Although I am excited to be booked in one later this year, videos suggest there is not a physical barrier like a card entry system between Terrazza Carnivale and the cabanas, is that correct? 

 

You are welcome!

 

Yes, a few random people have wandered by, but so few that it really hasn’t been an issue. I do think they should do some sort of key barrier to get access to that hallway though from Carnivale (it is locked from the other side, the walkway around on Dec 5, or a least it has been the last few days).  You never know on a particular cruise how a group of new people will roam a ship.

[firstimecruiseronncl]

How did you like the Terrazza Carnivale area? I'm disappointed that there aren't any lounge chairs back there. We are sailing in January and I hope they add some lounge chairs between now and then. I'm sorry you are not feeling great. Thank you for your report and videos. 

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, firstimecruiseronncl said:

How did you like the Terrazza Carnivale area? I'm disappointed that there aren't any lounge chairs back there. We are sailing in January and I hope they add some lounge chairs between now and then. I'm sorry you are not feeling great. Thank you for your report and videos. 

 

We loved the Carnivale area! We were out there for every sail away, and most times going into ports as well, plus before dinner for drinks (except on those heavy, chilly, foggy days). Since I had 2 lounge chairs and a hammock in my cabana, I didn’t miss the lounge chairs, but that might be an issue for people in Terrazza Balconies and Interiors.

 

It wad also our favorite bar on the ship; great batenders (shout out to Zora!). Used the continental breakfast nearly every day for at least coffee, often grabbed juice and yogurt//granola or muffin.

 

Loved the special Steak House brunch ,and the priority debarkation is nice too

 

Yeah, I’m sorry I picked up Cruise Crud too (or Cruise Plague, as my overly dramatic daughter likes to call it).  But I don’t mind a quiet day at the end of a 15 day cruise.

[TravelBluebird]

We are all packed. Resting in the room.  Did venture out (with my mask) for Sea Day brunch; needed a big glass of Orange juice, coffee, and some eggs. Was glad to not be seated directly next to anyone.

 

Here are some photos from our day in Halifax! We took a Halifax Titanic Historical Tour; a 1-man operation, Paul is the driver and guide and he is a font of information. Loved it—comfortable van, only 6 on our tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

It’s foggy and windy and I’m sad; really hoped for some last day sun to sit out in my hammock this afternoon. Alas it is not to be.

[firstimecruiseronncl]

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

We loved the Carnivale area! We were out there for every sail away, and most times going into ports as well, plus before dinner for drinks (except on those heavy, chilly, foggy days). Since I had 2 lounge chairs and a hammock in my cabana, I didn’t miss the lounge chairs, but that might be an issue for people in Terrazza Balconies and Interiors.

 

It wad also our favorite bar on the ship; great batenders (shout out to Zora!). Used the continental breakfast nearly every day for at least coffee, often grabbed juice and yogurt//granola or muffin.

 

Loved the special Steak House brunch ,and the priority debarkation is nice too

 

Yeah, I’m sorry I picked up Cruise Crud too (or Cruise Plague, as my overly dramatic daughter likes to call it).  But I don’t mind a quiet day at the end of a 15 day cruise.

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it and the bartenders were great! That makes all the difference. Thanks again -- I hope you feel better soon!

[abbeydoo]

4 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

You are welcome!

 

Yes, a few random people have wandered by, but so few that it really hasn’t been an issue. I do think they should do some sort of key barrier to get access to that hallway though from Carnivale (it is locked from the other side, the walkway around on Dec 5, or a least it has been the last few days).  You never know on a particular cruise how a group of new people will roam a ship.

Thank you

 

[coscab]

Thank you for taking us along!  Is there priority embarkation for Terrazza cabins?  We have an aft wrap on deck 8 booked, do you know what would be the easiest way for us to get to Carnivale?

Thanks again for the great review, glad you saw the whales🐳

[TravelBluebird]

44 minutes ago, coscab said:

Thank you for taking us along!  Is there priority embarkation for Terrazza cabins?  We have an aft wrap on deck 8 booked, do you know what would be the easiest way for us to get to Carnivale?

Thanks again for the great review, glad you saw the whales🐳

 

There was no Priority Embarkation on this particular cruise, because it was a Journeys cruise—perhaps the regularly scheduled cruises will have it. I didn’t know about the Priority Disembarkation until the tags were delivered to my stateroom.

 

To get down to Carnivale from 8, the aft stairs work (there is also a little staircase in the very back that went from 6 to 5,…I don’t know if that one goes all the way to 8, in the Carnivale area).

 

And thank you, and I really did enjoy seeing the whales!

[TravelBluebird]

I really wanted to attend MarQ’s Q and A and also the The World Woks Here show, but I really don’t want to get anyone sick. So I didn’t.

That said, I’m not coughing or spewing, so did wear my mask to dinner and we were seated all alone on a table of 6 near the wall, so I could have a final dinner.

 

Had the Comfort Soup (how apt), the Indian Vegetarian, and the Spumoni. Russ had the Zucchini Frittatas and the Short Ribs.  Plus some nice hot tea.

 

Then the MDR staff sang “Leaving On a Jet Plane” and we knew, indeed, this glorious trip was all over.

 

Back in room; we will be putting the luggage out at 8, then possibly will wake up to see the Statue of Liberty and the sky line around 4 to 4:30am. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Tomorrow we’ll exit our room at 8 and go to the Marco Polo Restaurant on 3 where we’ll “be escorted” off the ship.  

 

We don’t have a flight till 2:20 so we’ll have way too much down time at the airport.  Flying Delta from LaGuardia from the new terminal which I’m excited to see.  Direct flight, no connections—which never happens for us cruising from Florida, so that is nice!  We also got “first class” upgrades for the flight for $50 each. We normally wouldn’t upgrade for even that amount on a small plane, 2 hours only, but we thought not having to fight lines and a little extra comfort after such a long trip would be nice.

 

 

[luvcruzing]

Thank you for the live review.  I was following you when you broke your ankle.  Glad that you healed nicely, especially since I’ve heard that often is not the case with that injury. Now get some rest, get rid of that cruise crud, and feel better soon.

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

Tomorrow we’ll exit our room at 8 and go to the Marco Polo Restaurant on 3 where we’ll “be escorted” off the ship.  

 

We don’t have a flight till 2:20 so we’ll have way too much down time at the airport.  Flying Delta from LaGuardia from the new terminal which I’m excited to see.  Direct flight, no connections—which never happens for us cruising from Florida, so that is nice!  We also got “first class” upgrades for the flight for $50 each. We normally wouldn’t upgrade for even that amount on a small plane, 2 hours only, but we thought not having to fight lines and a little extra comfort after such a long trip would be nice.

 

 

The Delta lounge at LGA is huge and really nice!

They have a Warhol art piece!