twangster

At the end of deck 7 is the Champagne Bar.

The Champagne Bar spans both sides of the Infinity Atrium.

Across the Galleria is Butcher's Cut, the steakhouse.

I'll post more about Butcher's Cut after my lunch there later on day 3.

The Galleria has more shops opposite the Meraviglia Lounge.

The dome does make for some very dramatic scenes.

The Galleria has a second level on deck 7.

A lounge that hasn't seen very much use on this reduced capacity voyage is the TV Studio & Bar.

In the middle of deck 7 is a bridge that spans port & starboard sides of the Galleria.  Note how they changed the dome scene as overnight turned to early morning.

Looking forward:

And looking aft:

The Brass Anchor Pub is found on the Galleria forward on deck 7.  

There are information displays to provide information located around the ship.

Also on deck 7 in the Galleria moving aft are two specialty restaurants across from each other.  The first is Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki.

Behind the glass is the Teppanyaki area.

Kaito Sushi Menu:

Kaito Sushi.pdf

Kaito Teppanyaki Menu:

Kaito Teppanyaki.pdf

 

Day 3 - Sea Day

I feel like I haven't captured very much of the ship so with Ocean Cay behind us, it's time to move on. 

I always try to take pictures without a lot of guests in them and one of the easiest ways I have discovered to do this is by taking pictures early in the morning.  So this morning I set out early to capture the ship, or at least what I could before breakfast.

First here is a hallway.  Exciting stuff folks!  This is more so you get an idea of the decor around the ship. 

Note the little lights above the door.  Instead of hanging something on your door when your want privacy or need the cabin serviced there are switches inside that control these small LEDs above the doors so that crew know if they can knock or enter.

Since I have taken to using the panorama elevator and it drops me into the Edge Lounge on deck 7 let's start here:

Many of the bars have this blue barrier which is part of the pandemic protocols on board.  Typically wait staff will be present here ready to take your order. Your order is relayed to the bartender who prepares your drink.  The wait staff handle your card and the interaction so the bartender is free to make drinks.

Those windows are views to the sea during daylight hours.

Of course there is an MSC shop with logo merchandise.

The photo gallery was closed at this early hour.

These features are based around the Infinity Atrium midship.

The atrium looks into the Galleria on decks 6 and 7.

The Galleria.

The dome in the Galleria is a projection surface where they display a number of different graphics to set the mood.

In the center of the Galleria are more shops in the Plaza Meraviglia.

Shore Excursions has a kiosk in this area where you can purchase and manage shore excursions.

Crêpes & Gelato is a take away restaurant.

Crêpes & Gelato Menu:

Jean Philippe Crepes Gelato.pdf

This interesting mechanical piece can be found in the Galleria near the food venues.

There is a Jean Philippe Cafe with Chocolate. 

Jean Philippe Cafe with Chocolate Menu:

Jean Philippe Chocolat and Cafe.pdf

The signature Meraviglia Lounge is near the end of the Galleria .

This was the venue where I first entered the ship on embarkation day.

The rest of night was spent around the ship at various venues.  I'm a lot more comfortable with the layout of the ship now and it's easy to get from here to there now that I understand where most things are.

Another Diamond gift arrived.

Cabin service is mornings only due to pandemic protocols but my cabin attendant dropped this tonight.

The Lighthouse Spectacular is pretty... Spectacular!

First let me state it's really hard to capture a show like this with still photography.  I do have some video but I'm fairly certain the music is protected by copyright laws so I'm going to keep that for personal use.

The sides of the lighthouse tower basically become a display surface that plays different scenes.

Combined with the automated LED spotlights when choreographed to music it becomes alive.

It's something you have to see for yourself.

Really quite... spectacular!

Unfortunately my weather app lied.  That drizzle turned into a downpour that the spotlights are illuminating.  That's rain.  Heavy rain. 

Which sent the crowds on the beach scurrying back to the ship soaking wet.  

However next time, if the weather is good... I'll be on the beach!

At 9pm the cruise director promised us a Lighthouse Spectacular show featuring the lighthouse I climbed earlier.  The best place to see the show is from the Lighthouse Beach but I just as i was getting ready to head there a notification of drizzle starting at my location appeared on my phone so I decided to take in the show, this time, from my balcony.

Ocean Cay is close enough to Miami that NOAA weather radar covers Ocean Cay.

I decided to run up to the Sky Lounge on deck 16 to get a drink to enjoy the show with.

Some great sounding live music in the lounge.  The lounge is 21 and over and for fully vaccinated only. 

The pool deck as seen from the Sky Lounge (didn't have my good camera with me). 

Back in my cabin a DJ on the beach had music going with a little light show of their own getting the crowd ready for the Lighthouse Spectacular at 9pm.

Ocean Cay is beautiful at night. 

 Another cruise line I sail frequently leaves their private destination well before this time so it's takes some re-thinking about evening plans since MSC stays later at Ocean Cay. 

I'm not used to having this option so I need to re-learn how to visit a private destination that includes late night.  For example Springer's Bar on Ocean Cay also has live music in the evenings after dark.  Next time I need to plan to get off the ship in the evenings.

Sunset came with us still at Ocean Cay due to our late departure.  I took it in with a glass of wine on my balcony.

In hindsight I should have caught the sunset from the beach.  

On so many Caribbean and Bahamas cruises all aboard is late afternoon so I've seen plenty of sunsets from a ship.  When cruising the opportunity to see a sunset from a beach is less frequent so next time I'm on Ocean Cay with a late departure I'll be on the beach for sunset and I know exactly where to go to see it.  

Mid afternoon the day of fun in the sun caught up with and I may have taken a nap because I can do that on a cruise vacation.

1 hour ago, karl_nj said:

 

Ah nice.  Always a good sign when your free wine is actually something drinkable.

 

The Cunard board on Cruise Critic always had a running joke about the quality of the sparkling wine that was in your cabin on boarding day.  And that wine was pretty good compared to the Chardonnay i kept on getting via an Amex promotion.  It was so oaky it tasted like you were drinking tree sap and not wine.

 

LaMarca is great, especially for mimosas. 🙂 

Heading aft (but looking forward) 

To the Horizon pool area...

Panorama from the Horizon Bar.

Like much of the Bahamas it's pretty shallow behind the ship.

Ocean Day in full sunshine from the ship:

Panorama:

While on board I jumped into the Marketplace Buffet for a bite of lunch and noticed how empty the ship was so...

I prefer to capture pictures absent of strangers in them so I took the opportunity to grab some photos.

Main Pool:

The Bamboo Pool with the roof open.

Cantilevered hot tubs.

Heading out this morning I had grabbed a picture of the all aboard time.

Upon returning to the ship I noticed this had been updated to 12am midnight.

 

Back and board and in my cabin I found a bottle of sparkling wine waiting for me.  This ia Diamond perk.

It was a nice bottle of LaMarca Prosecco which is a label I sometimes buy myself.  Very nice.

It was pretty hot and humid so after my Ocean Cay adventures now into the heat of the day I needed a cool shower and a cold beverage.  

Walking back to the ship from the lighthouse I grabbed a few more photos.

Excursion tickets are available for purchase off the ship.

Jet ski dock.

A visitor's center and...

Shops of course!

I noticed a few husbands carry large paper bags back onto the ship throughout the day. 

I suppose I should have asked a few husbands what they found while shopping.

We've come full circle back to Springer's Bar,

Yacht Club guests have their meeting point and golf car shuttles.

Trams are available for us regular (non yachtie) folks.

Just to set expectations, this trip report is running roughly 24 hours behind live.  It’s the last night on board as I write this so you all know what means… 

Ive gotta pack and drive home tomorrow then I’ll come back to finish up so stay tuned.  Until then, there’s stuff going on around the ship, gotta go.  

16 minutes ago, Mike at Sea said:

@twangsterLovung all the pictures of Ocean Cay. Doesn’t look crowded. Did it feel that way?

Both ship and Ocean Cay felt deserted.  It’s a great time to cruise.  

With the Lighthouse excursion done it was time to enjoy one or two or three beverages while relaxing at the Lighthouse bar. 

Time to put the cameras down for a bit and switch to island time.

The bars on Ocean Cay have menus like those on the ship.  There are hotspots on Ocean Cay different from the ship wifi but the concept is the same.  Scan the QR code and pull up a bar menu.

Springer's Bar

Springers Bar.pdf

 

Lighthouse Bar

Lighthouse Bar.pdf

I had trouble logging into to access the internet while on Ocean Cay.  It reported that I was already connected with my one device.  I thought I had logged off my phone from the ship but something didn't like the way I had signed out.  

The whole island does not have wifi coverage but near the bars there are hotspots.

Also on or near the island is a cell tower for the Bahamas Telephone Company.  For my phone and service plan this worked just like it does at another cruise line's private island and in Nassau. YMMV.

 

High resolution super panorama.

I had pre-booked the lighthouse tour but my time was later in the day.  Since I was there and hadn't yet indulged I inquired to see if I could go early.  Success.

The tour is guided with stops at three levels to take pictures (and catch your breath).

Pretty good views at the first level.

Time to climb...

Wow!

Great place to get a picture of the ship!

Keep on climbing!

Oh yeah...

Lighthouse Bay and Beach is a netted area.

The tower is lined with LED lights and has these automated spotlights.  After dark is the Lighthouse LED show.

One end of the Cay is closed at the moment.  

MSC has been busy planting vegetation.

Walking back around to the "ship side" of the Cay.

One of a couple bars available at Lighthouse Bay and Beach.

Lighthouse Bar is a definite must visit venue.

Drink packages work on Ocean Cay just like on the ship.

Ocean Cay

At last we step foot onto Ocean Cay.

Ocean Cay is a marine reserve.

One of the excursion boats waiting for guests.

Springer's Bar.  One of many on the Cay.

The island has nearly 200 live on employees.  This is where they live.  

Not bad for "crew quarters".

Lots of concrete walkways shared with trams and people.

One of the food venues that will serve lunch later today.

Parts of the island of sectioned off because there are just not enough guests visiting right now due to reduced capacity.

Seakers beach at Ocean Cay Lagoon

Have I mentioned it's a great time to cruise with reduced capacity?  Plenty of loungers available.

Cabanas available at a cost.

Time lapse of our arrival into Ocean Cay: