mk-ultra

Oh, and this is the onboard itinerary my Genie Yen put together. I let her do pretty much everything except shore excursions.  I made a couple of minor mods after this was printed out. 
 
 

BTW. WX as we approach Ketchikan is phenomenal.  Clear skies. Calm seas. 49F. We totally are going to miss the wind/rain Mother Nature has scheduled for the 2 days following us bugging out. ☀️
 

Passing what I believe is Annette Island, which is where the excursion boat will be taking us for our hike and bonfire thingy in a few hours.

Oh, and this is the onboard itinerary my Genie Yen put together. I let her do pretty much everything except shore excursions.  I made a couple of minor mods after this was printed out. 
 
 

BTW. WX as we approach Ketchikan is phenomenal.  Clear skies. Calm seas. 49F. We totally are going to miss the wind/rain Mother Nature has scheduled for the 2 days following us bugging out. ☀️
 

BTW. WX as we approach Ketchikan is phenomenal.  Clear skies. Calm seas. 49F. We totally are going to miss the wind/rain Mother Nature has scheduled for the 2 days following us bugging out. ☀️
 

Day 3 - Ketchikan
Brief iPhone update from the deck 12 aft Suite Lounge. It’s 0845. Docking in Ketchikan at 1400. Gangway down at 1445.  All aboard at 1930.  Short-ish stop  
Suite lounge hasn’t been crowded and has a pretty great view.  Quantum strikes me as having a unique wake. Seems like props are synched much more closely than other ships.
Last night’s dinner at Chops was very good. Tuna tartare, mushroom soup, rack of lamb with mashers and asparagus. Glass of Argentinian Malbec. Skipped dessert. 1.5 hours. 
MO5IAC show was kinda meh for me. Bailed early for the casino.  It was all $10 6:5 BJ tables.  Don’t do it.  Asked the boss to open a $25 3:2.  As long as it’s not dead, most PB’s are happy to.  Did well 😊
Internet still doing well. Day 3 Cruise Compass came with a little advisory that it may have suckage   Poked around in my suite.  It’s got its own NEC AP400S access point.  We’re now at 54N latitude, having started at 49N in Vancouver.

IMG_3762.mov

Day 3 - Ketchikan
Brief iPhone update from the deck 12 aft Suite Lounge. It’s 0845. Docking in Ketchikan at 1400. Gangway down at 1445.  All aboard at 1930.  Short-ish stop  
Suite lounge hasn’t been crowded and has a pretty great view.  Quantum strikes me as having a unique wake. Seems like props are synched much more closely than other ships.
Last night’s dinner at Chops was very good. Tuna tartare, mushroom soup, rack of lamb with mashers and asparagus. Glass of Argentinian Malbec. Skipped dessert. 1.5 hours. 
MO5IAC show was kinda meh for me. Bailed early for the casino.  It was all $10 6:5 BJ tables.  Don’t do it.  Asked the boss to open a $25 3:2.  As long as it’s not dead, most PB’s are happy to.  Did well 😊
Internet still doing well. Day 3 Cruise Compass came with a little advisory that it may have suckage   Poked around in my suite.  It’s got its own NEC AP400S access point.  We’re now at 54N latitude, having started at 49N in Vancouver.

IMG_3762.mov

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 3 - Ketchikan
Brief iPhone update from the deck 12 aft Suite Lounge. It’s 0845. Docking in Ketchikan at 1400. Gangway down at 1445.  All aboard at 1930.  Short-ish stop  
Suite lounge hasn’t been crowded and has a pretty great view.  Quantum strikes me as having a unique wake. Seems like props are synched much more closely than other ships.
Last night’s dinner at Chops was very good. Tuna tartare, mushroom soup, rack of lamb with mashers and asparagus. Glass of Argentinian Malbec. Skipped dessert. 1.5 hours. 
MO5IAC show was kinda meh for me. Bailed early for the casino.  It was all $10 6:5 BJ tables.  Don’t do it.  Asked the boss to open a $25 3:2.  As long as it’s not dead, most PB’s are happy to.  Did well 😊
Internet still doing well. Day 3 Cruise Compass came with a little advisory that it may have suckage   Poked around in my suite.  It’s got its own NEC AP400S access point.  We’re now at 54N latitude, having started at 49N in Vancouver.

IMG_3762.mov

Day 3 - Ketchikan
Brief iPhone update from the deck 12 aft Suite Lounge. It’s 0845. Docking in Ketchikan at 1400. Gangway down at 1445.  All aboard at 1930.  Short-ish stop  
Suite lounge hasn’t been crowded and has a pretty great view.  Quantum strikes me as having a unique wake. Seems like props are synched much more closely than other ships.
Last night’s dinner at Chops was very good. Tuna tartare, mushroom soup, rack of lamb with mashers and asparagus. Glass of Argentinian Malbec. Skipped dessert. 1.5 hours. 
MO5IAC show was kinda meh for me. Bailed early for the casino.  It was all $10 6:5 BJ tables.  Don’t do it.  Asked the boss to open a $25 3:2.  As long as it’s not dead, most PB’s are happy to.  Did well 😊
Internet still doing well. Day 3 Cruise Compass came with a little advisory that it may have suckage   Poked around in my suite.  It’s got its own NEC AP400S access point.  We’re now at 54N latitude, having started at 49N in Vancouver.

IMG_3762.mov

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 1
Didn't report on my Day 1 last night.  By the time I got situated on the ship, unpacked and explored -- I'd racked-up 9.8 miles according to my watch.  For lunch on boarding day I went to the Dog House and got a regular dog smothered in onions (I'm fancy that way).  For my first dinner, ate all the snacky canapes they put in a suite.  Mini Japanese-ish shrimp cocktail with a miso mayo, assorted tuna and shrimp nigiri sushi, burrata cheese and tomato with a splash of balsamic.  Smoked salmon with pickled caper berries. Washed it down with a beer.
12 pack of Corona split between the fridge and counter above it, plus one bottle each of Domaine Ste Michelle and Moet Brut in the ice bucket.  I'll take it.  Usually assortment of juices and sodas.
Last night I watched the 2030 Star Water show (the one with something like $39M of robotic tech pumped into it).  Not bad.  Left about 3/4 of the way through it because I was beat.  Bedtime for moi.
Concierge at the JW convinced me to forgo trying to book private car service to get to the ship.  He said there are so many ride-share and taxis available 24x7 it's not worth it unless you just want to be in a big black vehicle.  I opted instead to just hop straight into the taxi that was looking for a fare when I hit the curb.  Less than 15 minutes and CAD $8 to the port.  Taxis are reasonable here.  That would barely get you a flag drop in SF.
 
 

Day 3 - Ketchikan
Brief iPhone update from the deck 12 aft Suite Lounge. It’s 0845. Docking in Ketchikan at 1400. Gangway down at 1445.  All aboard at 1930.  Short-ish stop  
Suite lounge hasn’t been crowded and has a pretty great view.  Quantum strikes me as having a unique wake. Seems like props are synched much more closely than other ships.
Last night’s dinner at Chops was very good. Tuna tartare, mushroom soup, rack of lamb with mashers and asparagus. Glass of Argentinian Malbec. Skipped dessert. 1.5 hours. 
MO5IAC show was kinda meh for me. Bailed early for the casino.  It was all $10 6:5 BJ tables.  Don’t do it.  Asked the boss to open a $25 3:2.  As long as it’s not dead, most PB’s are happy to.  Did well 😊
Internet still doing well. Day 3 Cruise Compass came with a little advisory that it may have suckage   Poked around in my suite.  It’s got its own NEC AP400S access point.  We’re now at 54N latitude, having started at 49N in Vancouver.

IMG_3762.mov

Had breakkies at the "Honey Salt" restaurant here at the JW (gotta use up that property credit).  For the second time in my life, I remembered to snap a pic before demolishing the plate.  Holding up the [APPLAUSE] sign.
It's their slightly-modified take on eggs Benedict.  American bacon and sautéed spinach, with the world's crispiest skin-on breakfast potatoes.  Really, really good.  They actually decently toasted AND lightly buttered the English muffins, which makes me want to hug a chef.
 

Friction-less trip from YVR to the JW Marriott Parq.  About 20 minutes in a ludicrously oversized black SUV. 😛 Got the usual FH&R room upgrade to a floor 16 "water" view room that overlooks False Creek to the southeast.  The big silver globe on the other side of the creek is Science World.  May check that out tomorrow.  Looks like it's geared for kids though.  Luckily, I'm still  brat at heart.  There's a walking/running/biking track all the way around the False Creek basin.



Gonna ask the concierge to pre-book another car for boarding day.  Learned my lesson in L.A. when several thousand other people also had the bright idea to hit the Uber or Lyft button at the same time to get to the ship.  1100 show time on Monday.
A lot of the restaurants here at the JW appear to be closed.  I read that on Tripadvisor after I'd already booked.  Still, there's plenty of food on-property (I had poutine and a beer while watching the Oilers <> LV Golden Knights game).  Did I mention the JW is also a casino?  Oops.  I'll give them a shot at my money tomorrow.  There's only one 3:2 shoe-dealt blackjack table in the entire place.  $25 min, so fewer ploppies.  All of the others are continuous-shuffle-machine and there are a bunch of stupid ones that require a $1 side bet each hand.
Tons of food (at every wallet level) within a 5-10 minute walk from the JW.  If you want to buy yourself wine for your one-bottle allotment the closest place, Robson Wine & Spirits, is a little under 10 minutes.  It's in the direction you'll want to go in to check out local restaurants, so not wasted time.

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 1
Didn't report on my Day 1 last night.  By the time I got situated on the ship, unpacked and explored -- I'd racked-up 9.8 miles according to my watch.  For lunch on boarding day I went to the Dog House and got a regular dog smothered in onions (I'm fancy that way).  For my first dinner, ate all the snacky canapes they put in a suite.  Mini Japanese-ish shrimp cocktail with a miso mayo, assorted tuna and shrimp nigiri sushi, burrata cheese and tomato with a splash of balsamic.  Smoked salmon with pickled caper berries. Washed it down with a beer.
12 pack of Corona split between the fridge and counter above it, plus one bottle each of Domaine Ste Michelle and Moet Brut in the ice bucket.  I'll take it.  Usually assortment of juices and sodas.
Last night I watched the 2030 Star Water show (the one with something like $39M of robotic tech pumped into it).  Not bad.  Left about 3/4 of the way through it because I was beat.  Bedtime for moi.
Concierge at the JW convinced me to forgo trying to book private car service to get to the ship.  He said there are so many ride-share and taxis available 24x7 it's not worth it unless you just want to be in a big black vehicle.  I opted instead to just hop straight into the taxi that was looking for a fare when I hit the curb.  Less than 15 minutes and CAD $8 to the port.  Taxis are reasonable here.  That would barely get you a flag drop in SF.
 
 

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 2
Started off with the C&A Top Tier event at 1115 in Two70.  Here's this cruise's pax breakdown:

Top dog on this cruise is a gentleman named Craig.  289 cruises and over 5200 points.  Sheesh!
Lunch was at Izumi.  I'm not big on sushi rolls drowning in miso mayo, so I asked if they could do an omakase-style sampler of nigiri.  They were glad to oblige.
Dinner tonight at Chops.
Sorry for the lack of photos.  Quantum does have the new-ish Starlink service.  Happy to report that on the pool deck, WJ, promenade and my cabin it's not bad.  Nothing to write home about -- and definitely an improvement over last December's experience on Navigator.  The only place I found WiFi unusable is in the Solarium.  [after the trip edit... wifi at Solarium was sorted out by day 2]
This is definitely a colder AK trip than my one back in 2016 (also in May).  No chair hogs at the outdoor pool (LOL - because nobody wanted to sit out there).  Not bad at all at the indoor pool either.  No wait.  They have the little pink covers that have been popping up telling pax to not be chogs and it seems to be working.
It really started to cool off once we got past Vancouver's myriad of islands and poured on the coal (21.5 knots).  More just the wind than it being really cold temp-wise.
This evening: Headliner Showtime "MO5AIC" in the Royal Theatre.
Tomorrow: Ketchikan.  Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire for me.  Swapping in my heavier jacket for this one since it's got some boat time to it.

Day 1
Didn't report on my Day 1 last night.  By the time I got situated on the ship, unpacked and explored -- I'd racked-up 9.8 miles according to my watch.  For lunch on boarding day I went to the Dog House and got a regular dog smothered in onions (I'm fancy that way).  For my first dinner, ate all the snacky canapes they put in a suite.  Mini Japanese-ish shrimp cocktail with a miso mayo, assorted tuna and shrimp nigiri sushi, burrata cheese and tomato with a splash of balsamic.  Smoked salmon with pickled caper berries. Washed it down with a beer.
12 pack of Corona split between the fridge and counter above it, plus one bottle each of Domaine Ste Michelle and Moet Brut in the ice bucket.  I'll take it.  Usually assortment of juices and sodas.
Last night I watched the 2030 Star Water show (the one with something like $39M of robotic tech pumped into it).  Not bad.  Left about 3/4 of the way through it because I was beat.  Bedtime for moi.
Concierge at the JW convinced me to forgo trying to book private car service to get to the ship.  He said there are so many ride-share and taxis available 24x7 it's not worth it unless you just want to be in a big black vehicle.  I opted instead to just hop straight into the taxi that was looking for a fare when I hit the curb.  Less than 15 minutes and CAD $8 to the port.  Taxis are reasonable here.  That would barely get you a flag drop in SF.
 
 

All packed-up and ready to go.  This is the first time I've ever shuffled stuff between bags to make sure I don't bust UA's 50 lb. bag limit.  I can already feel the anticipation (wheee!) of what promises to be a great trip.  😀  I doubt I'll sleep much tonight.  That's a good feeling.

CRUISE DAY!
Bags re-packed.  Safe emptied.  Caffenating, hydrating and Ibuprofen-ing my way out of a mild hangover.  Overdid it a little last night at the casino.  😛
Looks like we're the only ship at Canada Place this morning.  I'd heard some boarding horror stories about CP on a multiple-ship day, but looks like that's not in the cards this time.  W00t!