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Curt From Canada

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  1. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 12
    We arrived in Antarctica quite early in the morning.  Captain Stig delivered!!! Lots to talk about with his course and itinerary change. He gave a brilliant and funny talk as we were entering the Drake Passage. 
    AND Elon appears to have delivered too.  Starlink was 118 Down and 9 Up.  Geez … we are at the bottom of the world. 😂
    The Drake Passage was rough (between 25ft to 30ft waves), but nothing really too bad. If you stayed mid ship, it was “drunken walk” time. The theatre was bad (right at the front of the ship), so I skipped an enrichment lecture, and laid down for a nap.  My soulmate felt no ill affects at all. They, obviously, cancelled the production show, and it was held the next night instead.  Deck 12 (the walking track) and Deck 5 (outside promenade) were closed for the entire passage  
    Slept like a baby last night (and I do not sleep well typically).  The Drake rocked us all night long … (sounds like a song title from the early 70s 😉). 
    The bars were not as busy yesterday (but it was still difficult to find a seat in the Centrum before the first seating). The dance floor was a little too difficult to manage … so we sat the night out. 
    There was much anticipation for this … and, obviously, everyone is very excited. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  2. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Last one before we enter the “dark zone” (no internet 😂)
    The Captain made a quick decision to visit Antarctica first before the Falklands. He has an excellent talk on how and why the decision was made.  Short course:  We need to race to Antarctica quickly to miss some terrible weather.  The theatre was packed for his talk. More importantly two of the questions allowed him to show his humorous side:  
    When asked “Celebrity is slightly ahead of us on the way to Antarctica … are you coordinating the Drake Passage route decisions with them?”
    Captain Stig replied:
    “I don’t care what Celebrity is doing. And by the way, Celebrity took two tug boats to get in and out of Buenos Aires”
    When asked “For those of us who are new to cruising, what is the safest and calmest place on the boat?”
    Captain Stig replied:
    “Madame this is not a boat. A boat is what you look for when the ship sinks.”
    “The safest place is my cabin and the calmest place is deck 4 mid ship.”
    😂😂😂
     
  3. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 07
    A sea day (Day 3), we went to an Enrichment lecture (they have one every day … today they have two), ran to lunch, skipped a dance class on 70s dancing (this upsets us 😂), explored a little bit, got in our Espresso Nap, dressed for Formal night, “chased” dance music, ate in the MDR and watch the best Broadway review show at sea before crashing into bed. It really was non-stop.  We will try to take it easier today. 
    Breakfast has been exactly the same as usual, and lunch has been very disappointing. I would say the MDR is very hit and miss. Which is exactly our experience on other ships. 
    For Formal Night … My soulmate was, by far, the prettiest woman on the ship. The Formal Night really was a formal night. 80% of the passengers are in suits (and 30% of them are in tuxes/ballgowns/cocktail dresses). 
    All of the bands (except the strings) are danceable. The “Caribbean” band is singing 50s, 60s and 70s music. The house band is very good and once early seating is finished the dance floor gets packed. 
    The orchestra is a 9 piece and they are excellent. There are 5 principle singers and each one of them are as good or better than the best on other ships. They set a very high bar for the theatre entertainment. No dancers yet. We may be a dancer free zone for this segment. Watch this space …
    I had my third Filet Mignon in 3 days (research 😂). The first night was the best Filet Mignon i have had at se), but it was an aberration … Chops was good, but it was just Chops. Second night MDR filet was good, but not outstanding. 
    We love dancing with the Stowaway Piano Guy … best dances yet (in an odd venue, but we could care less). Dancing is possible in the Schooner Bar … longer story. We danced too much last night and we are really feeling old today. This might be a “maintenance”day. 
    Curt from Canada 
  4. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 06
    Late Seating is the MDR is the better time on this cruise. Dancing before dinner is abundant and the after dinner shows timing works out really well. 
    Early Seating (in the MDR) is a zoo. The R BAR is packed by 5:00 (as dinner is at 5:30). Everyone has the drinks package and they want their pre-dinner drink.  No fist fights at the R BAR yet, but they still have 246 days. 
    R BAR is empty by 5:40. Lots of room on the dance floor.  The bartenders have lots of time and they are much more relaxed. 
    The classical guitarist is excellent. They are typically difficult to dance to, but not this one. We will strike up a conversation with him to “order up” some foxtrots and rumbas.
    There is Stowaway Piano Player on board.  We have already had one “drive by” Swing dance (to Crocodile Rock), and we will actively seek him out. He takes requests.
    There is a Strings Trio with relaxing classical music. They are quite good. We are debating if anything is “danceable”. We might have to dust off a very old waltz (we have not waltzed in years).  Clear the dance floor … this might get messy. 😂
    It is still very early, but the theatre entrainment has been top tier so far. 2 shows and 2 ✅.  Drawing on local talent will provide lots of options over the 274 days. RCL appears to be doing their homework. 
    We have only had 3 days on board, but the Social Media personalities have been far less annoying than we anticipated. They are not hogging the dance floor nor being too distracting with “staged” recording. However, we have only had 2 days on board. Watch this space …
    The pace (so far) has been very hectic. Afternoon naps are a must. Even the sea days are busy. 
    Buenos Aires is a little scary. Lots of notifications of being careful about thieves and scams (from RC, locals and passengers). The Argentine economy is in very big trouble and it is very noticeable. We are glad that we paid for the RC excursions (and do not mind paying the premium).  We have heard of one stolen phone and one stolen purse from passengers just in Buenos Aires alone. 
    Chops was empty on night 2 (only 4 other tables occupied in Chops over the 2 hours we were there). Very easy to get a window seat AND we got to watch a very tight and interesting sail away.  
    As we left the Schooner Bar (after Chops Dinner) the sun was just setting. The pianist paused, looked out across the water at Buenos Aires skyline and switched to “Someone to Watchout over Me”.  After he finished, I asked him if he thought about playing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”.  He said that was his first thought, but it was a little “too cliche”. I think he made a great choice.  It was a beautiful, and tender moment (one that is easier, for some reason, to find on a cruise ship).  You have to be always looking for these moments, but you typically do not need to wait long. 
    Do not spread this around (or the future segments will get totally booked). I am investigating future segments. D+ and tagging along on the UWC is (so far) a great deal. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  5. Haha
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from Jamesszy94 in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Quick background … we are on Serenade right now (we have done the Drake Crossing twice now). We are “segmenters” so we will be getting off in Santiago (on JAN 23). We have been cruising since 2006, so we are always looking for new parts of the world to visit. We can not envision spending too much time away from friends and family. Still, when the segments came out we jumped on the chance for this once in a lifetime experience. 
    We booked an Oceanview for the Buenos Aires to Santiago leg, used Air2Sea to get a good price on our Toronto to Buenos Aires flight (plus the return from Santiago), AND won our Royal Up bid to a balcony (2 days before sailing). 
    All of the updates will be in no order at all (get ready for a Tetris style information flow).  Questions are encouraged, but expect a delay (we may not have coverage every day, and we will not be monitoring this site when we are on the dance floor. 😂)
    We went to the Loyalty Celebration on JAN 10 (we normally do not go). The crew appreciation portion of the hour was new to us (back of house and front of house nominees and winners for DEC were introduced and celebrated). It was nice. 
    Top Level Cruiser Numbers:
    115 Pinnacles
    300 D+
    325 D
    Only 1,600 passengers for this leg. 
    Cruise Director (Joff) is quite good. He has a nice mix of comedy and fun done in a mostly “relaxed” manner (very appropriate for a World Cruise). The World Cruisers are gravitating to him quickly … he is a stabilizing part of the cruise. 
    Falklands port day was “juggled” to get us to Antarctica and back before some very bad weather sets in. We still experienced a “Drake Shake” on the way down (All most 30 ft waves). The sea sickness bags appeared in the stairwells at 8:00AM on JAN 10.  More on the Drake later. 
    Like @twangster said … “It is part of the experience” … so we are going in with a positive mindset and a “boatload” of Gravol 😉
    The singers are excellent (all 5 of them … no weak links). We will make sure we see all of their shows. 
    I’ll post some thoughts on most of the days, but (to be clear) this is a “not at all live blog” so replies will be very delayed (we do not have the WiFi package). 
    Send questions … but expect delays. 
    Curt from Canada
    Partial Ultimate World Cruiser 😂 
  6. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 15
    Sea days are a lot busier than we remember. Mostly, because there:
    Is much more live music around the ship as is normal.  On sea days music will start in the Centrum just after noon and go through until late in the evening Are many more Enrichment Lectures than usual  Are many more dance class and exercise classes  Are not too many theatre shows we want to skip. Most have been very good Last night was Big Band Penguin Party night. The orchestra is perfect for that big band sound. We can not remember an on ship orchestra having 5 brass pieces. The sound in Centrum was big and the dance floor was over flowing. Lots of “penguins” on display (very funny penguins, but not necessarily the cute cuddly kind 😉). 
    The theatre show was the exact Tango show that was on Radiance in May. It was great in May and great again. We can not get enough Tango, but understand how a third tango show in 11 days might be a little too much for some. 
    Tonight is Piano Man (another show “borrowed” directly from the May cruise we took on Radiance). The lead vocalist is the same one from May and has hired on as a principle singer (1 of 5). It is unclear how many segments the 5 singer’s contract are. We loved Piano Man in May, so we will be early to the theatre tonight.
    We will miss the Falkland Island port today (high winds have ruled out the tendering process that is required for Port Stanley).  Disappointing, but par for the course in this part of the world. We hope to get an afternoon nap as consolation.  We are exhausted. 😂
     
    Curt from Canada
  7. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    There are a number of little things (that are adding up) that they did for the UWC that were noticeable. In no particular order:
    New bedding. New linens. New bathrobes. An under closet night light that is on a motion sensor (I do not remember these on a Radiance class ship before). An in cabin refrigerator that works (it appears to have very low fridge type temperatures). A balcony door that works extremely well. Last cruise (on Oasis) it almost took two people to open and close. This balcony door requires 1 finger to easily open or close. New glassware (at least for martini glasses) … how we know they are new is the funny part. New library … stocked full of books.  I am certain all of these improvements will not be as noticeable in 3-4 months, but for now it is difficult to miss. 
    Curt from Canada
  8. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from SweetPea in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 15
    Sea days are a lot busier than we remember. Mostly, because there:
    Is much more live music around the ship as is normal.  On sea days music will start in the Centrum just after noon and go through until late in the evening Are many more Enrichment Lectures than usual  Are many more dance class and exercise classes  Are not too many theatre shows we want to skip. Most have been very good Last night was Big Band Penguin Party night. The orchestra is perfect for that big band sound. We can not remember an on ship orchestra having 5 brass pieces. The sound in Centrum was big and the dance floor was over flowing. Lots of “penguins” on display (very funny penguins, but not necessarily the cute cuddly kind 😉). 
    The theatre show was the exact Tango show that was on Radiance in May. It was great in May and great again. We can not get enough Tango, but understand how a third tango show in 11 days might be a little too much for some. 
    Tonight is Piano Man (another show “borrowed” directly from the May cruise we took on Radiance). The lead vocalist is the same one from May and has hired on as a principle singer (1 of 5). It is unclear how many segments the 5 singer’s contract are. We loved Piano Man in May, so we will be early to the theatre tonight.
    We will miss the Falkland Island port today (high winds have ruled out the tendering process that is required for Port Stanley).  Disappointing, but par for the course in this part of the world. We hope to get an afternoon nap as consolation.  We are exhausted. 😂
     
    Curt from Canada
  9. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from Sweety in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    There are a number of little things (that are adding up) that they did for the UWC that were noticeable. In no particular order:
    New bedding. New linens. New bathrobes. An under closet night light that is on a motion sensor (I do not remember these on a Radiance class ship before). An in cabin refrigerator that works (it appears to have very low fridge type temperatures). A balcony door that works extremely well. Last cruise (on Oasis) it almost took two people to open and close. This balcony door requires 1 finger to easily open or close. New glassware (at least for martini glasses) … how we know they are new is the funny part. New library … stocked full of books.  I am certain all of these improvements will not be as noticeable in 3-4 months, but for now it is difficult to miss. 
    Curt from Canada
  10. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from Sweety in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 15
    Sea days are a lot busier than we remember. Mostly, because there:
    Is much more live music around the ship as is normal.  On sea days music will start in the Centrum just after noon and go through until late in the evening Are many more Enrichment Lectures than usual  Are many more dance class and exercise classes  Are not too many theatre shows we want to skip. Most have been very good Last night was Big Band Penguin Party night. The orchestra is perfect for that big band sound. We can not remember an on ship orchestra having 5 brass pieces. The sound in Centrum was big and the dance floor was over flowing. Lots of “penguins” on display (very funny penguins, but not necessarily the cute cuddly kind 😉). 
    The theatre show was the exact Tango show that was on Radiance in May. It was great in May and great again. We can not get enough Tango, but understand how a third tango show in 11 days might be a little too much for some. 
    Tonight is Piano Man (another show “borrowed” directly from the May cruise we took on Radiance). The lead vocalist is the same one from May and has hired on as a principle singer (1 of 5). It is unclear how many segments the 5 singer’s contract are. We loved Piano Man in May, so we will be early to the theatre tonight.
    We will miss the Falkland Island port today (high winds have ruled out the tendering process that is required for Port Stanley).  Disappointing, but par for the course in this part of the world. We hope to get an afternoon nap as consolation.  We are exhausted. 😂
     
    Curt from Canada
  11. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from KristiZ in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    There are a number of little things (that are adding up) that they did for the UWC that were noticeable. In no particular order:
    New bedding. New linens. New bathrobes. An under closet night light that is on a motion sensor (I do not remember these on a Radiance class ship before). An in cabin refrigerator that works (it appears to have very low fridge type temperatures). A balcony door that works extremely well. Last cruise (on Oasis) it almost took two people to open and close. This balcony door requires 1 finger to easily open or close. New glassware (at least for martini glasses) … how we know they are new is the funny part. New library … stocked full of books.  I am certain all of these improvements will not be as noticeable in 3-4 months, but for now it is difficult to miss. 
    Curt from Canada
  12. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from KristiZ in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 15
    Sea days are a lot busier than we remember. Mostly, because there:
    Is much more live music around the ship as is normal.  On sea days music will start in the Centrum just after noon and go through until late in the evening Are many more Enrichment Lectures than usual  Are many more dance class and exercise classes  Are not too many theatre shows we want to skip. Most have been very good Last night was Big Band Penguin Party night. The orchestra is perfect for that big band sound. We can not remember an on ship orchestra having 5 brass pieces. The sound in Centrum was big and the dance floor was over flowing. Lots of “penguins” on display (very funny penguins, but not necessarily the cute cuddly kind 😉). 
    The theatre show was the exact Tango show that was on Radiance in May. It was great in May and great again. We can not get enough Tango, but understand how a third tango show in 11 days might be a little too much for some. 
    Tonight is Piano Man (another show “borrowed” directly from the May cruise we took on Radiance). The lead vocalist is the same one from May and has hired on as a principle singer (1 of 5). It is unclear how many segments the 5 singer’s contract are. We loved Piano Man in May, so we will be early to the theatre tonight.
    We will miss the Falkland Island port today (high winds have ruled out the tendering process that is required for Port Stanley).  Disappointing, but par for the course in this part of the world. We hope to get an afternoon nap as consolation.  We are exhausted. 😂
     
    Curt from Canada
  13. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from MaryS in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    There are a number of little things (that are adding up) that they did for the UWC that were noticeable. In no particular order:
    New bedding. New linens. New bathrobes. An under closet night light that is on a motion sensor (I do not remember these on a Radiance class ship before). An in cabin refrigerator that works (it appears to have very low fridge type temperatures). A balcony door that works extremely well. Last cruise (on Oasis) it almost took two people to open and close. This balcony door requires 1 finger to easily open or close. New glassware (at least for martini glasses) … how we know they are new is the funny part. New library … stocked full of books.  I am certain all of these improvements will not be as noticeable in 3-4 months, but for now it is difficult to miss. 
    Curt from Canada
  14. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from MaryS in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 15
    Sea days are a lot busier than we remember. Mostly, because there:
    Is much more live music around the ship as is normal.  On sea days music will start in the Centrum just after noon and go through until late in the evening Are many more Enrichment Lectures than usual  Are many more dance class and exercise classes  Are not too many theatre shows we want to skip. Most have been very good Last night was Big Band Penguin Party night. The orchestra is perfect for that big band sound. We can not remember an on ship orchestra having 5 brass pieces. The sound in Centrum was big and the dance floor was over flowing. Lots of “penguins” on display (very funny penguins, but not necessarily the cute cuddly kind 😉). 
    The theatre show was the exact Tango show that was on Radiance in May. It was great in May and great again. We can not get enough Tango, but understand how a third tango show in 11 days might be a little too much for some. 
    Tonight is Piano Man (another show “borrowed” directly from the May cruise we took on Radiance). The lead vocalist is the same one from May and has hired on as a principle singer (1 of 5). It is unclear how many segments the 5 singer’s contract are. We loved Piano Man in May, so we will be early to the theatre tonight.
    We will miss the Falkland Island port today (high winds have ruled out the tendering process that is required for Port Stanley).  Disappointing, but par for the course in this part of the world. We hope to get an afternoon nap as consolation.  We are exhausted. 😂
     
    Curt from Canada
  15. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from PPPJJ-GCVAB in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    There are a number of little things (that are adding up) that they did for the UWC that were noticeable. In no particular order:
    New bedding. New linens. New bathrobes. An under closet night light that is on a motion sensor (I do not remember these on a Radiance class ship before). An in cabin refrigerator that works (it appears to have very low fridge type temperatures). A balcony door that works extremely well. Last cruise (on Oasis) it almost took two people to open and close. This balcony door requires 1 finger to easily open or close. New glassware (at least for martini glasses) … how we know they are new is the funny part. New library … stocked full of books.  I am certain all of these improvements will not be as noticeable in 3-4 months, but for now it is difficult to miss. 
    Curt from Canada
  16. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 13
    Sailing through the calm Antarctica waters was exhausting and serene. The icebergs were the highlight. So many different and stunning ones to photograph and the Antarctica Vistas played more of a “second fiddle” to the floating sculptures. 
    For pictures it is best to check out @Twangster’s blog “Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica”
    I am thinking about adopting @Twangster 
    😉
     
    Lots of whales and penguins. This resulted in multiple sprints between the port and starboard side. We spent a lot of time on our balcony (in between sprints). We spent a little bit of time on the helicopter deck … mandatory viewing for Canadians (cold, wet, sometimes snowy and always windy … a stark reminder of home). 
    The Crown Lounge is busy for Happy Hour, but you can still find a seat (especially after first seating starts). It is opened to the Viking Crown Lounge (as it should be), and that is critical. With over 700 Diamond and above cruisers the C&A drink “vouchers” are also critical in controlling the Crown Lounge. The Concierge Lounge is not open to Pinnacles (there are 115 on this segment). The barricades have not gone up and the revolution seems to be on hold. 😉 However, I will make sure to keep everyone in the loop. 
    The entertainment is a level or two or three above what you see on normal Radiance Class ships. The orchestra is excellent and is a 9 piece. For one of the production shows they brought in 2 strings players for an 11 piece. It makes a big difference. All 5 principle singers would be the lead on other Radiance class ships. It maybe does not compare to Mama Mia or Hairspray, but it is very close. 
    Certainly the number and quality of the bands around the ship compares favourably to any Royal ship. Due to the number and variety of styles it is probably the best we have seen.  To be a little more precise:
    1). Classical Guitar Player:  A very creative and engaging guitar player. Some of it is danceable, all of it is extremely interesting and fun. This is not your normal classical guitar experience. 
    2). Strings Trio: Normally in the Centrum (which can have music that starts just after lunch most days).  Very relaxing, very “classic cruise”, and very difficult to dance to 😂 … still, a great place to have a drink to on decks 4 through 6. 
    3). Caribbean Duo:  South of the equator they transformed into a 50s, 60s and 70s standards group. They might be the best band to dance to on the ship, except for:
    4). Big Band Orchestra: All 9 members on the small Centrum stage for the Big Band Penguin Party. They were great and it was a blast.  We were having trouble getting room on the dance floor, and one of the principle singers whispered to us … “Get your elbows up and carve out some space” (professional advice executed by total amateurs that actually worked 😂).
    5). 3 Different Piano Players in the Schooner Bar:  Tons of talent in the Schooner Bar throughout most of the day. Yes … there is a small dance floor for 2 there. You just have to use your imagination and depend upon the kindness of strangers to deviate from the normal aisle ways. 😉
    6). Stowaway Piano Player:  He was here for the first few days and took our requests. We have not seen him since … I hope they did not catch him. 😮
    7). House Band:  We have not seen enough of them, so it is difficult to tell. Given the 6 points above, we have not missed them. High praise for the level and number of entertainers that are all over this ship. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  17. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Oh no … I have opened a can of worms. 
     
    Not sure if UWC Pinns are allowed in the Concierge Lounge (it sure looks empty when I pass by) … I will try to find out tonight.  However, it is 100% certain that UWC Pinns have their breakfast in CHOPs. Regular everyday Pinns have a section of deck 5 MDR. 
    LET THE GAMES BEGIN …
    😉
    Curt from Canada
  18. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Second Drake Crossing was as close to the “Lake” as we could expect. Less than 2 meter waves, and a barely noticeable sway to the ship. 
    Yesterday’s visit to Elephant Island was very restful. Lots of whale and penguin watching. We saw a “double fluke” where two whales dove down side by side at the exact same time. That was a first for us. We found two great places for site seeing. The Viking Crown lounge (that was obvious), and the Schooner Bar (having live piano and guitar music made it even more relaxing … if you turn the chairs around, it is like you are the only people in the world watching Antarctica pass by … we enjoyed that the most.  Oh yes, the ice cold martinis helped.)
    Dinner in the MDR continues to be good (better than most of our past cruises). 
    We were only able to squeeze in one swing dance on the way to the Illusionist’s show. The number was quite fast and, we had lots of room on the dance floor, so it was an “oxygen required” swing number … only one or two of those per night are allowed (I have a doctor’s note 😉). 
    No sign of the Stowaway Piano Player … We are becoming concerned for his safety😉.
    The Illusionist was good, but better still due to how he engaged the audience. The show was late (due to a late departure from Elephant Island), therefore it was straight to bed after the show was done. 
    Tomorrow is the Big Band Penguin Party Day. We will sleep in to make sure we do not miss the orchestra playing dance music. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  19. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from SweetPea in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    JAN 13
    Sailing through the calm Antarctica waters was exhausting and serene. The icebergs were the highlight. So many different and stunning ones to photograph and the Antarctica Vistas played more of a “second fiddle” to the floating sculptures. 
    For pictures it is best to check out @Twangster’s blog “Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica”
    I am thinking about adopting @Twangster 
    😉
     
    Lots of whales and penguins. This resulted in multiple sprints between the port and starboard side. We spent a lot of time on our balcony (in between sprints). We spent a little bit of time on the helicopter deck … mandatory viewing for Canadians (cold, wet, sometimes snowy and always windy … a stark reminder of home). 
    The Crown Lounge is busy for Happy Hour, but you can still find a seat (especially after first seating starts). It is opened to the Viking Crown Lounge (as it should be), and that is critical. With over 700 Diamond and above cruisers the C&A drink “vouchers” are also critical in controlling the Crown Lounge. The Concierge Lounge is not open to Pinnacles (there are 115 on this segment). The barricades have not gone up and the revolution seems to be on hold. 😉 However, I will make sure to keep everyone in the loop. 
    The entertainment is a level or two or three above what you see on normal Radiance Class ships. The orchestra is excellent and is a 9 piece. For one of the production shows they brought in 2 strings players for an 11 piece. It makes a big difference. All 5 principle singers would be the lead on other Radiance class ships. It maybe does not compare to Mama Mia or Hairspray, but it is very close. 
    Certainly the number and quality of the bands around the ship compares favourably to any Royal ship. Due to the number and variety of styles it is probably the best we have seen.  To be a little more precise:
    1). Classical Guitar Player:  A very creative and engaging guitar player. Some of it is danceable, all of it is extremely interesting and fun. This is not your normal classical guitar experience. 
    2). Strings Trio: Normally in the Centrum (which can have music that starts just after lunch most days).  Very relaxing, very “classic cruise”, and very difficult to dance to 😂 … still, a great place to have a drink to on decks 4 through 6. 
    3). Caribbean Duo:  South of the equator they transformed into a 50s, 60s and 70s standards group. They might be the best band to dance to on the ship, except for:
    4). Big Band Orchestra: All 9 members on the small Centrum stage for the Big Band Penguin Party. They were great and it was a blast.  We were having trouble getting room on the dance floor, and one of the principle singers whispered to us … “Get your elbows up and carve out some space” (professional advice executed by total amateurs that actually worked 😂).
    5). 3 Different Piano Players in the Schooner Bar:  Tons of talent in the Schooner Bar throughout most of the day. Yes … there is a small dance floor for 2 there. You just have to use your imagination and depend upon the kindness of strangers to deviate from the normal aisle ways. 😉
    6). Stowaway Piano Player:  He was here for the first few days and took our requests. We have not seen him since … I hope they did not catch him. 😮
    7). House Band:  We have not seen enough of them, so it is difficult to tell. Given the 6 points above, we have not missed them. High praise for the level and number of entertainers that are all over this ship. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  20. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from twangster in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Let’s not tell too many people 😉, but:
    The segments when they came out were very, very low priced. The were a steal. We have stopped talking about prices, as it is a little bit of a sore spot on the ship. 
     
    Currently, the prices have gone up, but they are still priced “OK”. The key jump is between an Oceanview to a Balcony (it was double for this cruise).  We made up this strategy by “mistake”:
    1). We booked an Oceanview 3rd deck midship (we were OK with that)
    2). We Royal Uped to a balcony with a slightly over minimum bid and had it accepted two days before sailing. We would have been fine with the Oceanview, but we all really are enjoying our Balcony 
    … but don’t tell anyone 😂
    Happy “hunting”  
    Curt from Canada
  21. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from SweetPea in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Second Drake Crossing was as close to the “Lake” as we could expect. Less than 2 meter waves, and a barely noticeable sway to the ship. 
    Yesterday’s visit to Elephant Island was very restful. Lots of whale and penguin watching. We saw a “double fluke” where two whales dove down side by side at the exact same time. That was a first for us. We found two great places for site seeing. The Viking Crown lounge (that was obvious), and the Schooner Bar (having live piano and guitar music made it even more relaxing … if you turn the chairs around, it is like you are the only people in the world watching Antarctica pass by … we enjoyed that the most.  Oh yes, the ice cold martinis helped.)
    Dinner in the MDR continues to be good (better than most of our past cruises). 
    We were only able to squeeze in one swing dance on the way to the Illusionist’s show. The number was quite fast and, we had lots of room on the dance floor, so it was an “oxygen required” swing number … only one or two of those per night are allowed (I have a doctor’s note 😉). 
    No sign of the Stowaway Piano Player … We are becoming concerned for his safety😉.
    The Illusionist was good, but better still due to how he engaged the audience. The show was late (due to a late departure from Elephant Island), therefore it was straight to bed after the show was done. 
    Tomorrow is the Big Band Penguin Party Day. We will sleep in to make sure we do not miss the orchestra playing dance music. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  22. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from SweetPea in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Let’s not tell too many people 😉, but:
    The segments when they came out were very, very low priced. The were a steal. We have stopped talking about prices, as it is a little bit of a sore spot on the ship. 
     
    Currently, the prices have gone up, but they are still priced “OK”. The key jump is between an Oceanview to a Balcony (it was double for this cruise).  We made up this strategy by “mistake”:
    1). We booked an Oceanview 3rd deck midship (we were OK with that)
    2). We Royal Uped to a balcony with a slightly over minimum bid and had it accepted two days before sailing. We would have been fine with the Oceanview, but we all really are enjoying our Balcony 
    … but don’t tell anyone 😂
    Happy “hunting”  
    Curt from Canada
  23. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from Sweety in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Let’s not tell too many people 😉, but:
    The segments when they came out were very, very low priced. The were a steal. We have stopped talking about prices, as it is a little bit of a sore spot on the ship. 
     
    Currently, the prices have gone up, but they are still priced “OK”. The key jump is between an Oceanview to a Balcony (it was double for this cruise).  We made up this strategy by “mistake”:
    1). We booked an Oceanview 3rd deck midship (we were OK with that)
    2). We Royal Uped to a balcony with a slightly over minimum bid and had it accepted two days before sailing. We would have been fine with the Oceanview, but we all really are enjoying our Balcony 
    … but don’t tell anyone 😂
    Happy “hunting”  
    Curt from Canada
  24. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from MaryS in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Second Drake Crossing was as close to the “Lake” as we could expect. Less than 2 meter waves, and a barely noticeable sway to the ship. 
    Yesterday’s visit to Elephant Island was very restful. Lots of whale and penguin watching. We saw a “double fluke” where two whales dove down side by side at the exact same time. That was a first for us. We found two great places for site seeing. The Viking Crown lounge (that was obvious), and the Schooner Bar (having live piano and guitar music made it even more relaxing … if you turn the chairs around, it is like you are the only people in the world watching Antarctica pass by … we enjoyed that the most.  Oh yes, the ice cold martinis helped.)
    Dinner in the MDR continues to be good (better than most of our past cruises). 
    We were only able to squeeze in one swing dance on the way to the Illusionist’s show. The number was quite fast and, we had lots of room on the dance floor, so it was an “oxygen required” swing number … only one or two of those per night are allowed (I have a doctor’s note 😉). 
    No sign of the Stowaway Piano Player … We are becoming concerned for his safety😉.
    The Illusionist was good, but better still due to how he engaged the audience. The show was late (due to a late departure from Elephant Island), therefore it was straight to bed after the show was done. 
    Tomorrow is the Big Band Penguin Party Day. We will sleep in to make sure we do not miss the orchestra playing dance music. 
     
    Curt from Canada
  25. Like
    Curt From Canada got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE (Not Even Close Live Blog & Only Segment) JAN 05-23   
    Let’s not tell too many people 😉, but:
    The segments when they came out were very, very low priced. The were a steal. We have stopped talking about prices, as it is a little bit of a sore spot on the ship. 
     
    Currently, the prices have gone up, but they are still priced “OK”. The key jump is between an Oceanview to a Balcony (it was double for this cruise).  We made up this strategy by “mistake”:
    1). We booked an Oceanview 3rd deck midship (we were OK with that)
    2). We Royal Uped to a balcony with a slightly over minimum bid and had it accepted two days before sailing. We would have been fine with the Oceanview, but we all really are enjoying our Balcony 
    … but don’t tell anyone 😂
    Happy “hunting”  
    Curt from Canada
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