Adventure OTS, 13 Night Snowbird Migration Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale Oct. 8, 2018

[JLMoran]

Just now, twangster said:

Here is something new, at least for me.

   

The old "give 'em a free taste and they'll be happy to pay for more" strategy?

Either that, or someone in their promo department saw your spreadsheet and said, "Awwww, fudge!!"; and now your "wait until day 2" strategy is just part and parcel of every sailing. 

[twangster]

Some other ships photos as I returned from my afternoon walk.

Free Sushi in the Promenade!

I knew it was getting dark and wanted to catch some twilight or golden hour city photos despite the rain that was now falling.  Our guide at the Citadell has said rain was moving in.  He was right.

The Viking Star also in port today was making its departure.  It was docked around the corner way past the Citadell.

Yikes, I'm late for my 6pm MTD reservation.  Better get moving.

[twangster]

3 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

The old "give 'em a free taste and they'll be happy to pay for more" strategy?

Either that, or someone in their promo department saw your spreadsheet and said, "Awwww, fudge!!"; and now your "wait until day 2" strategy is just part and parcel of every sailing. 

I think it only applied to the full voyage plans.  Maybe Voom sales were slow in the cruise planner so they pulled this out of the closet.

If they keep this up, I'm going to need to revamp my spreadsheet.  

[twangster]

Dinner in the My Time Dining room.  

I'm not sure I'll do this for all 13 nights, but here is the day one menu.

Caesar Salad:

Prime Rib

I got the evil eye from a Pinnacle (proudly wearing his pin) who apparently didn't like me taking pictures of my food.  He raised his arms in the air for at least a minute and glared at me.  Oh well...

No dessert.  I can't do 13 nights of desserts.

[twangster]

After dinner I used my 3 happy drinks at various bars.  The Diamond lounge was a zoo.  As I stood in line for a drink I overheard speculation there are 85 Pinnacles on board and something like 1,200 Diamonds.  I may attend the top tier event later in the cruise to confirm.

It was beginning to dawn on me why they call this the "Snowbird Migration" cruise.  In my fifties I am one of the youngest on board.  I realized I haven't seen one kid yet.  I'm basically cruising with all of my parents friends and they are all Diamond or higher.

A light rain had set in.  I headed up to deck 12 to see what I could capture.

Time to find a local bar with good local beer.

Calling @mpoole3...

Midnight approaching it was time to head to bed.

[twangster]

Day 2 - Quebec City

Still in place I woke and worked for a bit.  Around 9:30am I headed to the Windjammer.  My plan was to avoid the peak breakfast crowd. 

Outside was gloomy which resulted in everyone staying on the ship and all of my parent's friends had parked themselves in the Windjammer.  Playing cards, using laptops, talking, a few were eating.

The only seat was at the bar in the Windjammer where a few other's had resorted to eating.  

A scan of the room confirmed my earlier age observation.  I'm a baby on this cruise.  I think I saw some old ladies checking me out.  At least I know I can out run their husband's... walker.  Not sure about scooters, those things can go pretty fast!

I'm glad I spent as much time as I did exploring Quebec City yesterday.  Today wasn't nearly as nice. 

[monctonguy]

5 minutes ago, twangster said:

Day 2 - Quebec City

 

A scan of the room confirmed my earlier age observation.  I'm a baby on this cruise.  I think I saw some old ladies checking me out.  At least I know I can out run their husband's... walker.  Not sure about scooters, those things can go pretty fast!

 

Haha...I have enjoyed a couple of comments you have made about the demographics on the ship. Sounds like this cruise is defn catering to a more mature crowd...

 

That might be the only thing that might deter me from one of these unless I went with a few friends or another couple at least....but the stops and the scenery would be amazing for sure.

[twangster]

Just now, monctonguy said:

Haha...I have enjoyed a couple of comments you have made about the demographics on the ship. Sounds like this cruise is defn catering to a more mature crowd...

That might be the only thing that might deter me from one of these unless I went with a few friends or another couple at least....but the stops and the scenery would be amazing for sure.

I don't think all cruises here are this way, but it's two weeks long in October when few working types can or will use that much vacation for a cruise.  Plus it's one way.  It's marketed as a "Snowbird Migration"  so that alone says a lot.  

That's okay, I hope I can keep on cruising as long as some of my fellow guests are.

I'm sure there are some younger types on board.   

[Matt]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Here is something new, at least for me.

A free day of Voom Surf and Stream if a full voyage plan is purchased onboard on boarding day.

I've never seen that either. Probably offering since everyone has cell coverage, so doubt they sell many Voom packages on day 1

[The Cruise Junkie]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

After dinner I used my 3 happy drinks at various bars.  The Diamond lounge was a zoo.  As I stood in line for a drink I overheard speculation there are 85 Pinnacles on board and something like 1,200 Diamonds.  I may attend the top tier event later in the cruise to confirm.

It was beginning to dawn on me why they call this the "Snowbird Migration" cruise.  In my fifties I am one of the youngest on board.  I realized I haven't seen one kid yet.  I'm basically cruising with all of my parents friends and they are all Diamond or higher 

 

 

Gee The Flowrider Must Be Like A Ghost Town 

[twangster]

18 minutes ago, Twangster Fan said:

Gee The Flowrider Must Be Like A Ghost Town 

I suspect this may be a cruise dream for any one seeking Flowrider time.  Just bring a wetsuit.  It's a bit chilly out there.

[The Cruise Junkie]

46 minutes ago, twangster said:

I suspect this may be a cruise dream for any one seeking Flowrider time.  Just bring a wetsuit.  It's a bit chilly out there.

Yes A Dream Flow Cruise. How Cold Is It 

[June May]

Your photos of the low city had me all nostalgic! "I had lunch in that pub!" "That store had the most amazing fine art prints!" "I remember those stairs!" And oh boy, the Funicular is fun! Unless you're not good with heights 

I will say that The Plains of Abraham look very different from the time I was there - they were set up for the Rolling Stones concert as part of Festival d'été de Québec. I think it looks better as rolling grass fields!

Snowbird migration is totally a thing - there's folks of a certain age, with the means to do so, who never see a Canadian winter!

[Lovetocruise2002]

5 hours ago, twangster said:

It was beginning to dawn on me why they call this the "Snowbird Migration" cruise.  In my fifties I am one of the youngest on board.  I realized I haven't seen one kid yet.  I'm basically cruising with all of my parents friends and they are all Diamond or higher.

 

5 hours ago, twangster said:

A scan of the room confirmed my earlier age observation.  I'm a baby on this cruise.  I think I saw some old ladies checking me out.  At least I know I can out run their husband's... walker.  Not sure about scooters, those things can go pretty fast!

I should not have, but I laughed so hard at this!

Note to self:  If you are a baby on board, I have no clue where that would leave me.  Putting this cruise on the 10+plan.  but definitely before Alaska...

[twangster]

Just when you thought strange creatures are the figments of imagination of the mad, I've been saved!  There is a child on board!  I'm guessing 10ish.  I'm not the youngest!  Woo-Hoo!  It was a M&Ms moment... "He does exist!"

Although this does mean I won't have the water slides to myself...

 

[twangster]

The rest of day 2 was pretty much the same.  Raining, overcast, gloomy.  I stayed on board and worked.  

Muster at 4:30pm.  

At least I was in the Imperial lounge.  Seating went quick so I was glad I got there early to beat all those old people to the seats.  Just kidding.

Soon after our sail away.

Typical escort out of port.

It's kind of weird.  Tomorrow is day 3 already yet we just sailed away.  Yikes!  Only 10 more days!.

[twangster]

Day 2 - Dinner

Here is the MDR menu

I had an overseas work call so I missed my MTD reservation (again).  To the Windjammer!  British Night.  

I went with Fish and Chips and a Cottage Pie (I skipped lunch).  The Sheppard's Pie looked good and tempting but I resisted.  Bangers and Mash also available as well as several other British style items.  

In other news the whole Viking Crown Lounge was the Diamond Lounge.  Oddly they were still asking to see cards to enter the Diamond Lounge while the temporary bar on the dance floor of the VCL was open for anyone to walk up to.  I guess they figured there are so many D/D+ why not?

Seating was hard to come by so off to the pub.

Entertainment was not inspiring me tonight.    The pub was about to become karaoke.  Viking Crown was still recovering from the Diamond Crush game.  Trivia in the Schooner Bar.  Comedian is my mother's age and last night targeted my mother's age group with her jokes.  I'm sure in 20 years I'll be rolling on the floor, but not tonight.

[GoodSmith]

I joined this blog just to follow and comment on your journey and say Thank You for this amazing presentation! This is my dream cruise, and what makes it more thrilling is the encounter with Hurricane Michael in the coming days Really looking forward to how that will go. Those diamonds will get one hell of a ride as I see them sitting there bored and joyless during the muster drill

[twangster]

18 minutes ago, GoodSmith said:

I joined this blog just to follow and comment on your journey and say Thank You for this amazing presentation! This is my dream cruise, and what makes it more thrilling is the encounter with Hurricane Michael in the coming days Really looking forward to how that will go. Those diamonds will get one hell of a ride as I see them sitting there bored and joyless during the muster drill

Welcome to the message boards!  

Diamonds are a resilient bunch.  Many have seen it or done it.  No one, including myself seems to be overly concerned just yet.  That doesn't mean some won't whine but arguing with Mother Nature is mostly futile.  

[GoodSmith]

@twangster

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

Diamonds are a resilient bunch.  Many have seen it or done it.

Cruising with them is more to my liking, though. More mature and quiet. And if all of them are getting packed in the diamond lounge then I will have more of the ship to myself
Loved the sail away and the mist, so peaceful and unlike any of my previous 3 cruises.
 

[Traveler]

From the alignment of the cannons I understand they still afraid all those big cruise ships might be a camouflage for American army troops that will storm the city and will force them to  speak English .

 

[Sweety]

This is on my bucket list. Maybe my retirement cruise in 4.5 years.

[Boston Babe]

1 hour ago, Sweety said:

This is on my bucket list. Maybe my retirement cruise in 4.5 years

Mine too, but the way we are NOT winning in football, it might be awhile!! LOL 

[twangster]

Day 3 - Sea Day 

Our progress so far has us entering the Gulf of St Lawrence and beginning to make the turn South-East.  

At 22.5 knots we have to be pretty near full speed ahead.  The ship is very smooth though.

I noticed on the card left with the D+ Champagne the voyage number is 888.  I wonder if this is the 888th sailing of Adventure?

We changed times last night, we are now on Atlantic time.

The Northern shore of the Gaspe Bay Peninsula.

Voom is non-existent.  I've ventured up to the Viking Crown Lounge to eek out a small 3G signal from the tip of Quebec to write this.

[JLMoran]

1 minute ago, twangster said:

Can you just confirm if smartphones will automatically change to the correct time zone, as long as they have some kind of network connection (wifi, cellular)? I seem to recall this is the case, as it's caused problems on other sailings where the ship chose not to change over to the new time zone (per captain's discretion).

[twangster]

7 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Can you just confirm if smartphones will automatically change to the correct time zone, as long as they have some kind of network connection (wifi, cellular)? I seem to recall this is the case, as it's caused problems on other sailings where the ship chose not to change over to the new time zone (per captain's discretion).

The issue is that the ship might not cross the line of the time zone boundary at 2am exactly.  In this case the Province of Quebec which extends East above parts of Newfoundland is in the Eastern time zone while Nova Scotia (somewhat South and partly West of our position) is in the Atlantic time zone.  Time zones do not follow absolute North-South lines.   

If I let technology figure this out my phone would think Eastern time is appropriate based on cell signal from Quebec.  Yet the ship is on Atlantic time.  For this reason I manually put my phone onto the ship time.

[The Cruise Junkie]

Hey @twangster On The TV They Are Not Showing All You Ports Of Call Like Boston 

[Matt]

Welcome @GoodSmith !

[twangster]

26 minutes ago, Twangster Fan said:

Hey @twangster On The TV They Are Not Showing All You Ports Of Call Like Boston 

Indeed.  It could be they don't want to crowd the names on the screen or maybe they plan to drop it because of the storm.  Time will tell.  

[twangster]

Elevator upgrades are underway.  They are manufactured by Kone, a big name in the elevator industry.  They have Kone employees on board doing the upgrades.  I saw this on Mariner a few weeks ago as well.

Old elevator signs are being replaced.

New indicators are bigger and easier to read.  My guess is that there is more to this upgrade than just signage.  I'm betting old control systems are being modernized and newer controls will allow intelligent adaptations to respond to peak times and other such things. 

Spotted a ship in the distance.  It's the Oceania Insignia out of New York.  

There is also some work being done on the ping pong tables.

Slides and flowrider are closed despite the cruise compass times listing them as open.  It is pretty cold out there.

Despite the cool temperature it's a beautiful day.

 

[Matt]

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

Slides and flowrider are closed despite the cruise compass times listing them as open.  It is pretty cold out there.

It is odd the Compass lists them as open and they are not, but I'm guessing the cold temps made them believe opening it was a waste?

[twangster]

1 minute ago, Matt said:

It is odd the Compass lists them as open and they are not, but I'm guessing the cold temps made them believe opening it was a waste?

The cruise compass was dropped off last night.  The app doesn't list them in the 'activities' category.  The app does list an Adult Minigolf Competition which was underway when I was up there.  

I plan to go out with my coat next time now that the helipad is back open after strong winds last night closed it.  I'll report back if they have opened them.  I suspect not because the water plus wind-chill would be very cold.  I don't think they can heat large volumes of flowing water unlike a pool or hot tub where the water isn't moving at high flow rates.  

[henrysea13]

2 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Can you just confirm if smartphones will automatically change to the correct time zone, as long as they have some kind of network connection (wifi, cellular)? I seem to recall this is the case, as it's caused problems on other sailings where the ship chose not to change over to the new time zone (per captain's discretion).

I just got of the brilliance on the 6th I had cellular at sea on my phone it did not change on my I phone 7 automatically  

[twangster]

Captain's noon announcement - temps of 49° F with a high of 52° F today.  Ocean temp. is 48° F.  Winds are near 30 mph but from our port aft side so a following wind.  Currently 5' swells which I can't feel at all in my cabin.  

He did address our future rendezvous with tropical storm Michael (what it will be when we come closest).  Based on predictions we will be 150 nm from the storm and that will occur after our day in Halifax.  Keep in mind that Michael will lose a lot of it's strength as it crosses land.  It won't be a hurricane when it approaches nearest to Adventure.  It will be a very different storm compared to what it is right now.

Based on predictions and the wind-field that the NHC is forecasting, winds will be 5-10 miles per hour, possibly 10-20 miles per hour.  That's not a concern, right now we have 30 mile per hour winds.  

I expect we will have some swell to deal with.  I'm not overly concerned with that based on current predictions.  

The only question is forecast prediction.  This far out and after a collision with land, the storm could track differently than predicted.  Only time will tell but I trust in that they will keep us safe even if we have a bumpy ride for a short spell.  

[henrysea13]

I appreciate your posts very much my family and I will be on her next month for 8 to the eastern Caribbean we love the pictures

[twangster]

Day 3 - Midday

Here from near the center of the Gulf of St. Lawrence I wandered around and grabbed some more photos.

Following seas from the 20 knot tail wind makes for very smooth sailing with little wind on the helipad.

There was a request for some Sports Deck photos so here they are.  Starting with mini-golf at Adventure Dunes.

 

This is a two level mini-golf that starts on deck 13 and ends on deck 12.

I talked to the sports deck crew and they don't operate the flowrider or slides below approximately 10°C or 50°F.  Since we are right on that bubble they are currently closed.  They call to the bridge who advises them on weather and they make a call go/no-go.

Main pool deck.

Time for lunch at Cafe Promenade.  Noted a pulled pork BBQ special.

Updated pizza selections.

A couple of turkey sandwiches, a slice of BBQ chicken pizza and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich.  All were quite tasty.  I'm ready for a nap.

Meanwhile, back in my cabin...

[JLMoran]

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

A couple of turkey sandwiches, a slice of BBQ chicken pizza and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich.  All were quite tasty.

OK, first @mworkman, now @twangster. I'm telling ya, the pizza is the gateway the Pod People have started using to get to the rest of us!!

[Guy Gadwa]

Enjoying your blog & periscopes! 

[KathyC]

Oooo what a lovely plate of treats to find waiting for you...

[GoodSmith]

The food is indeed delicious!

I'm interested in ice skating. Do they usually open the rink for public skating during sea days?