Here we go again... LIVE from Beyond, February 19, 2024

[mac_tlc]

15 hours ago, RK-NC said:

 

Agree. We are novice cruisers and are kinda shocked to read about chair hogs. I did a google search and see that it's a hot topic across the board, not just on Celebrity. Wondering if it happens in other areas of the ship, like the buffet? And I'm just really hoping that the Retreat sundeck will be a lovely, easy and relaxing experience. 

I have seen the occasional savings of tables in the Oceanview, more for people playing cards or dominoes as opposed to eating. 
 

mac_tlc

[Keys Kathy]

10 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

I have seen the occasional savings of tables in the Oceanview, more for people playing cards or dominoes as opposed to eating. 
 

mac_tlc

I have seen, and have been guilty of, placing my bag, drink, and book on a table in OceanView and going to get my food. Is that considered "hogging"? I really don't want to carry stuff while in line.

[gold1953]

3 minutes ago, Keys Kathy said:

I have seen, and have been guilty of, placing my bag, drink, and book on a table in OceanView and going to get my food. Is that considered "hogging"? I really don't want to carry stuff while in line.

that is fine

[RK-NC]

1 hour ago, Arzeena said:

 One of the ladies from the card playing group got very nasty at those who requested and started waving her cane at them. Verbal fight broke out when another couple just ignored them and sat to eat their lunch at their reserved table anyways. Crew member came to see, couple explained, he agreed that there should be no reservations and helped gather the stuff that was used to reserve. Well, where do you think they finally moved to ....Their "reserved" lounge chairs near the solarium pool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I need CC to add a shocked emoji. Our last cruise was in 2019 and everyone was so well mannered. We've probably been social distancing too much over the last 4 years and missed out on how much the world has changed. sigh....

[mac_tlc]

2 hours ago, Keys Kathy said:

I have seen, and have been guilty of, placing my bag, drink, and book on a table in OceanView and going to get my food. Is that considered "hogging"? I really don't want to carry stuff while in line.

No problem doing that. 
 

 

mac_tlc

[A&L_Ont]

On 2/21/2024 at 4:03 PM, mac_tlc said:

Supposedly, it is still the Retreat Team approach. We have not seen or heard from our Head Butler. 
 

IMO and experience (twice now in two months), it is an attempt at cost cutting that has failed miserably. Can’t wait to see how LBH addresses it in the upcoming Q&A webinar.
 

Dedicates butlers are supposedly appearing in early March. 
 

 

mac_tlc

@mac_tlc I’m following along considering Beyond in late July for an 8 night. Looking at a Retreat room so I’m very interested in your feedback. 

 

On 2/22/2024 at 8:17 AM, RK-NC said:

 

Good luck. This is one of the big reasons we booked retreat. How is chair availability on the retreat deck? 

Having battle chair hogs at our last AI I’m curious too.

 

On 2/24/2024 at 9:08 AM, mac_tlc said:

We arrive in Aruba at 4pm today and are there until 10pm or so tomorrow. One interesting factoid, mentioned by our cruise director Shawna is that tomorrow is Sunday and a lot of the shops will be closed 😳😳😳.

 

Does this explain your wife’s Amazon delivery on embarkation day?😀😂

[hcat]

is tom the Pancake breakfast.. ?   

 

As for comment  re AI

We went to Sandals Nassau

/ Bahamas a few yrs ago( Concierge suite).. no chair hog issues.  Pool attendants had a  reserved area for the honeymooners..and  there were  lots of  chairs available. 

 

They had a quiet pool ..  to read, lounge,  sun & swim  And an active pool... dj music  dance, activity...lively but still no loud rap or obnoxious activity staffers..just fun in the sun !   

 

Resort had a more international clientele all ages and very interesting...

And many bars ( all included)  no long waits and no one noticeably over the edge!

 

Hope to go back soon!

Edited February 25 by hcat

[39august]

Another question please mactic. Are there stairs from the aft outside area of Oceanview Cafe up to the Sunset Bar on Beyond?

[Tyler414]

Just now, 39august said:

Another question please mactic. Are there stairs from the aft outside area of Oceanview Cafe up to the Sunset Bar on Beyond?

Yes, the stairs are outside. 

[mac_tlc]

2 hours ago, 39august said:

Another question please mactic. Are there stairs from the aft outside area of Oceanview Cafe up to the Sunset Bar on Beyond?

Yes there are, and if your lucky you will walk right past our favorite “reserved” towel right at the top of the stairs!!! Been there every day I have walked by. 

 

mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

Did I mention that the Dutch Pancake House is fabulous? 
 

My wife had the “Shanghai” :

 

 

 

Bacon (more Canadian than American), egg, cheese, bell peppers , Spanish peppers. 
 

I had a bacon, onion, cheese, tomato, mushroom:

 

 

 

These babies are 12” across, I know because I measured the plate— and it completely fills the plate. With two sides of toast and two coffees, a total of $55 with tip. 
 

They have a hundred different options. Worth the trip.

 

mac_tlc

Edited February 25 by mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

Did a little more shopping on the at back to the ship. I would say maybe half the stores were open. The ritzy ones were closed. 
 

Also made a donation to the Aruban casino gods at the casino next to the Renaissance hotel. Very nice pool area there. Here are a few pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 25 by mac_tlc

[traveline]

38 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

Yes there are, and if your lucky you will walk right past our favorite “reserved” towel right at the top of the stairs!!! Been there every day I have walked by. 

 

mac_tlc

What nights are the Chic dinners held. Thank you for all your information posted

[mac_tlc]

13 minutes ago, traveline said:

What nights are the Chic dinners held. Thank you for all your information posted

Days 2 and 9.  Both Tuesdays.

 

mac_tlc

[3boyz2keep]

On 2/21/2024 at 3:41 PM, luv2cruisemore said:

I’ve read several posts from AQ Blu guests complaining about long waits for dinner in Blu due to Suite guests dining there. We’ll be in Blu 3/11 and will not be happy if Suite guests are allowed in Blu and delaying our meals. Maybe they should allow AQ guests to dine in Luminae since so many Suite guests don’t “love” Luminae!

Just off the Beyond last week in a suite. We chose to eat in Blu two nights and never a wait or long time for service or food. 

[MMMCruiser]

After reading the comments about the chair hogs, how are things in the Retreat Lounge and on the Retreat sundeck?  Chair hogs is one of the reasons I booked into the Retreat but now I'm wondering if it's still going to be a problem. 

[hcat]

3 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Did I mention that the Dutch Pancake House is fabulous? 
 

My wife had the “Shanghai” :

 

 

 

Bacon (more Canadian than American), egg, cheese, bell peppers , Spanish peppers. 
 

I had a bacon, onion, cheese, tomato, mushroom:

 

 

 

These babies are 12” across, I know because I measured the plate— and it completely fills the plate. With two sides of toast and two coffees, a total of $55 with tip. 
 

They have a hundred different options. Worth the trip.

 

mac_tlc

outrageous.. look like more than a meal!   will remember for our next visit..would they let us share?

[CruiszBug]

21 minutes ago, hcat said:

outrageous.. look like more than a meal!   will remember for our next visit..would they let us share?

Almost looks like a pizza??🙂

[sunsetme]

have u dined at Eden? What is it like??

[mac_tlc]

33 minutes ago, hcat said:

outrageous.. look like more than a meal!   will remember for our next visit..would they let us share?

They will let you share, but then you both have to agree on what to get 😜😜.

 

mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

4 minutes ago, sunsetme said:

have u dined at Eden? What is it like??

Not this time due to a reservation snafu, but we have in the past five or six times. It is one of our favorites. 
 

Great crab cake, wonderful presentation. It is getting a bit pricy, though at $85 +20% if booked onboard. Be on the lookout for a sale.

 

mac_tlc

[hcat]

57 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

They will let you share, but then you both have to agree on what to get 😜😜.

 

mac_tlc

we often order the same or if we get diff entrees we share .. so not  a problem!  never saw anything like it!

 

Curious,  is the base regular pancake batter?   our grandsons would love making something  like this with g pa.

[mac_tlc]

9 hours ago, hcat said:

we often order the same or if we get diff entrees we share .. so not  a problem!  never saw anything like it!

 

Curious,  is the base regular pancake batter?   our grandsons would love making something  like this with g pa.

It’s similar to a thin crepe but a little more substance at the ends. 
 

mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

Good morning Curaçao!!

 

 

 

 

 

Plan for today is to get off and wander around. The ship was just cleared at 7:13am and all aboard is 6:30.

 

Port day so no chair hogs:

 

 

 

Not even our friends:

 

 

Edited February 26 by mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

We have a couple of visitors with us today: 

The Britannia from P&O, 

 

 

And arriving at noon is the Explora 1 from MSC Explora Journeys, their new upscale line.
 

 

 

Lots of chatter about MSC YC vs Retreat vs Explora vs others. Not going to get into that now, but later I will chat about our views, investigations, and thoughts on such matters. 
 

mac_tlc

Edited February 26 by mac_tlc