Essiesmom sails Seashore Dec. 7-17. A Live From from Below the Salt

[Essiesmom]

What is Below the Salt, you ask?  Google it.  For short, It means I am not in YC.  As a matter of fact, I am way forward on deck 5 in a Fantastica OV.

This time Essie is coming along.  My biggest task may be keeping her under control.  Car and navigator packed:

 

 

I'm an old lady and don't participate in many activities.  I like to explore the ship, and people watch.  I like to go to the shows, particularly the musical ones.  I haven't much patience for jugglers, magicians, or comedians.  I eat in the MDR and buffet, don't do specialty restaurants even though as diamond I do have a complimentary meal.  I don't eat a lot, splurge on gelato.  I hardly drink, not that I am against it, but I dislike the taste so it is always something that disguises the taste.  Or free.  I carry around a refillable bottle which usually contains iced tea.  

   I live 280 miles north of Port Canaveral, in Coastal GA.  I like to sail from ports I can drive to but this is too far to drive the day of the cruise, although I could have done it because they assigned me a boarding time of 4pm...  I left home about 1pm, and after a stop at CVS to pick up two prescriptions that I don't need yet but I couldn't let sit for 11 days, I hit the back roads until joining I-95 at exit 49.  I hate I-95 ao spend as much time as possible on side roads.  The worst part is going through JAX.  Maybe I should splurge on a SunPass and take the express lanes.  Tonight I am at the Best Western Plus at SR 16, the outlet malls of St. Augustine.  I have a small but adequate room, much like a cruise ship cabin.  There is barely space to walk between the foot of the bed and the chest.  There are at least 8 outlets, but not a single usb port.  But I am equipped.  My watch is currently being charged.  

 

 

 

 

The hotel is behind a Denny's, but it seems not to be open.  So I revisited Ford's Garage for supper, chicken fingers and house salad.  I've eaten there before and there is really too much food.  Last time I could only eat half of my sandwich.  I am not a gourmet, or a gourmand.  Many of the dishes others picture and rave about I would never order.  I will post menus and pictures of what I order, and whether or not I liked it.  But not the gelato...I will be too busy eating it before it melts to take pictures...

  Please post questions, but only about non-YC.  EM

[Georgia_Peaches]

Looking forward to following along on another one of your adventures. Not sure about the doll though… maybe I’ve seen too many bad movies but they scare me!  All the same, wishing you safe travels. 

[Two Wheels Only]

 

Did I guess right? ☺️

[Essiesmom]

3 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Did I guess right? ☺️

2022 Limited, not XT.  Essie has been traveling with me for 21 years.  She hasn't aged a day.  EM

Edited December 7, 2023 by Essiesmom

[Georgia_Peaches]

8 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

2022 Limited, not XT.  Essie has been traveling with me for 21 years.  She hasn't aged a day.  EM

Lol!  I love it! 😊

[noshoobie]

Looking forward to your review from Below the Salt. We will be BTS on Seashore in February.  I love reading reviews from all types of travelers and perspectives. Have fun!!

[Bilge Rat 2]

The Crazzzy "Rat" will be onboard Sunday with Hangman.  May help get Peepers# up on your Live Posts. 7.7k on R/C.

Save some Ice cream for others coming! Not packed or looking forward too I-4 528 drive. Its Red 185+ 2seater!

 Will be playing my travel song on the way. another meaning to riding "Shot Gun"

Phil Collins - "In the Air Tonight" | Remastered - YouTube

  Good Work   EM                                                                                                                                                                                                                From The Bilge

Edited December 7, 2023 by Bilge Rat 2

[Essiesmom]

I slept some last night.  Bed is pretty good, but not perfect.  My other 'job' started early.  I follow cruise ships through the Panama canal for another forum that specializes in the Panama Canal.  And NCL Joy was due to transit.  It was very nearly a night transit.  She got her peeps up early, in the channel, under the Bridge of the Americas and into the first of the Cocoli Locks before 6am.  If you want to see what I saw, go here:

 

Down to the lobby for the usual free hotel breakfast.  The bacon could have been crisp...the omelets had cheese, and I helped it out with hot sauce.  A small yoghurt and a touch of OJ and I was good to go.  Chilly here this morning.  Almost up to 50 now.  

[Essiesmom]

Apparently the hotel has a resident kitty:

 

 

And my faith has been restored.  Last cruise, on Elation, I used an airtag for the first time.  It was still in that suitcase until I transferred for this trip.  But when I was away from the house, I never got alerted.  I finally figured out it was because my niece, who lives with me, also has a iPhone and it was picking up the tag.  But I got this notice last night when I was in my room with my carryon and the case was still in the car.  

 

[Best Cat Mom]

Just now, Essiesmom said:

Apparently the hotel has a resident kitty

Aha! You picked an excellent hotel then. Kitties are very particular

 

Or they have a rodent problem. And that is a well-fed kitty.

 

But I'm betting it's the former in this case. 🙂

 

[Essiesmom]

I just asked, and it’s a stray.  It has adopted them.  

[Bilge Rat 2]

48 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

I just asked, and it’s a stray.  It has adopted them.  

The Other "Ship"  Cat!!     Bilge Rats Problem??

[Mark_T]

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

But when I was away from the house, I never got alerted.  I finally figured out it was because my niece, who lives with me, also has a iPhone and it was picking up the tag.  But I got this notice last night when I was in my room with my carryon and the case was still in the car.  

 

There is an option not to report separation from the tag when it is at a 'safe' location, that is probably why you don't get the alerts at home, rather than anything to do with your niece.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

16 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

2022 Limited, not XT.  Essie has been traveling with me for 21 years.  She hasn't aged a day.  EM

Just like The Simpsons!

[Pattypistol]

EssiesMom, We're on the same cruise but not below the salt.....tried to convince DakotaStar & friends to go BTS, but they are YC fans.....and wanting to join our friends on our first cruise, we going YC.

 

Essie is too cute in that candy cane romper!!!   21 years, wow!   I love the pillows and the car seat...gotta protect precious cargo!  😉

 

Have a good night....fingers crossed, we'll all meet up at some point.

[Essiesmom]

Wow, it’s been a long day. I didn’t leave the hotel until just before noon. Traffic was not bad but it was still two hours until I was parked. I was able to drive by and drop off my bag, then head back to the garage. They have a real racket going. If you are on a cruise that can be sold as two, you have to pay separately. In August I paid for the four, then the three. But you pay for the turnaround day twice. This time I paid for the first three day, and he said I would pay for the  7 day on the way out. We’ll see. The garage was pretty full so I’m near the top, but not far from the elevator. 
   Please bear with me as I am using my phone as I couldn’t get the server to come up on my iPad mini. I dragged my carryon to the terminal. The big rush was over but still some line. Got the docs checked, then security.  Then thru the diamond line to check in. Got my card and then it was board the ship. I had to take a short break first to eat a Hershey nugget, as I was feeling my sugar was low. 
  Fortunately it is not a terribly long walk, only two ramps and not steep at all.   You board on deck 6, and I went straight down to my cabin on 5. Unpacked my carryon and changed my shirt to short sleeves. Essie claimed the deep windowsill. My assigned dining time is 5:15 in Central Park which is also on 5, but aft. I’m all the way forward.   I watched the safety video endlessly until time to call, then went up to my muster station C to get scanned. By then it was after 4 pm and too late to grab a snack in the buffet. I did go up to fill my water bottle with iced tea. Since people were still boarding, they still had salad and sandwiches available even though they had been supposed to close at 4 pm. 
  I’m going to split this up, to save everyone’s eyes. 

[Essiesmom]

My cabin is quite spacious. It might actually be larger than my last hotel room, except for the bath. It has a bunk sofa. The sofa is one reason I booked an OV. There is about a foot of space between the arm of it and the bulkhead, three feet between the nightstand and the other arm. Plus about three feet between the bed and closet. Much more than my Aurea cabin on Seaside. 
  There is a usb port on one side of the bed. At the desk are two US outlets, two EU outlets and two more usb. 
 

 

[Essiesmom]

More pics:

 

[Essiesmom]

One thing I noticed that was not present on Seaside is a magnifying mirror in the bathroom. And it is mounted low enough you don’t have to be six ft talk to use it. 
  I met my cabin steward Ali from Mauritius when he delivered my bag just before I went to dinner. He has 25 cabins. 
  I was the first at my table for 8. I was joined by a couple from Pittsburgh, and a little later by a couple who divide their time between Arkansas and Florida with his sister. All on casino comps. The menu was one I recognized. I had Caesar salad and lasagna with pineapple  sherbet for dessert  

 

[Todd320]

28 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by Todd320

[Essiesmom]

After dinner I wandered a bit, never knowing where I was. Seems bigger than Seaside, more confusing. I didn’t go to the show, too tired and achy. Came back to the cabin and had an evening nap. When I woke I loaded up on Motrin, emptied my suitcase, then went out to walk the decks as my Heartline program required more walking time. I found the sports bar in time to see the Steelers lose. Like Seaside this ship has a lot of uncomfortable chairs. I prowled the shops. 
  A people watching observation.  Even though it was the first night there were a lot of women dressed up. One foursome were all in green. They said tomorrow is white and Saturday will be blue. There are also quite a few children for the week before Christmas vacation. And I guess MSC does not have a young age restriction because one family has a baby maybe 3 mos old. Most lines require six months, but last time I saw a very young baby I searched the website and couldn’t find any age limit. 

[jinpasco]

Great postings. We will be getting on as you are getting off. We too are on Deck 5 forward ,Fantastica so we will be following along . The room pictures show us a lot of what to expect. Thank you for taking the time out of your vacation to do this. 

[Essiesmom]

A sunny morning.  I slept pretty well, considering the bed is too firm for my comfort.  I noticed yesterday when I was unpacking and napping that my room appears to be beneath the stage.  There was a lot of thumping bass, and when it stopped I could hear hurrying footsteps.  By the time I was back in the room after midnight it had stopped.  It wouldn’t keep me awake.  Tonight is a comedian so maybe no bass.  
    Christmas decor.  A little.  MSC, you can do better.  A few varied trees, something up on a post.  There is one type of gold tree that would collapse into a flat coil.  Bet they bought hundreds for across the fleet.  Pics at the bottom.  
   I realized at dinner that my card did not show my loyalty status.  So one of my late stops after my nap was to guest services.  No line!  They issued a new card and while I waited, another couple came up with the same problem.  
  A few random pics of decorations, theater, hallway on deck 5…. My watch is about charged and it’s been an hour since my pills, so time for breakfast!

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by Essiesmom
Added the pictures

[Essiesmom]

We have just pulled into Nassau, not docked yet. Had breakfast in buffet, carb and cholesterol heavy. Lines were crazy. Stitch a nice Florida couple from Melbourne, on the 3 day, first MSC. They have done a lot of Crystal. Didn’t know about YC. Will do more walking when the crowds get off. A trip to the little girls room is in order.  

[Cruzinforpeace***]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

We have just pulled into Nassau, not docked yet. Had breakfast in buffet, carb and cholesterol heavy. Lines were crazy. Stitch a nice Florida couple from Melbourne, on the 3 day, first MSC. They have done a lot of Crystal. Didn’t know about YC. Will do more walking when the crowds get off. A trip to the little girls room is in order.  

Love that picture from the Bahamas! Gorgeous.