Showing posts with label Formal Night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Formal Night. Show all posts

Thursday, July 2, 2026

The Suite Life of Chris and Kellie- Day 2

The Easy Life
Sea Day #1
June 14, 2026


Formal Night on a cruise ship is one of our favorite things! 

Morning


Happy SUNDAY Y'all! 

I woke up early and tried to enjoy the sunrise on the balcony but there was lots of cloud coverage, so I opted to try to go back to sleep. The beds were "upgraded" according to Royal Caribbean standards (due to having a suite) but they were still very hard. TIP- Always bring a mattress topper if you can as they do not always have them available. We buy one at Walmart for $12.50 and then leave it on the cruise. That $25 investment is worth it every time. 

We got ready and went to the Main Dining Room for breakfast. This is one of our favorite things on any cruise ship as the food is more "fresh" than at the buffet and it is not near as crowded. However, in recent cruises Royal Caribbean service has been very slow in the MDR for breakfast and this morning proved to be the same as it took longer to have breakfast in the MDR than it did to have dinner, which is crazy. The food was great and even with a longer service time, we enjoyed the breakfast experience. 


The MDR Breakfast Menu 


The Mariner of the Seas Main Dining Room... It is absolutely breathtaking! 

After breakfast we went to the Solarium Bar and met yet another bartender who knew us from the Anthem of the Seas 2025 to Alaska. TIP- This bar offers multiple types of protein shakes, smoothies and fresh fruit juice (the carrot juice seemed odd). Even around 9AM on a Sea Day, this Solarium Adults Only area was not that crowded. We opted to lounge around in this area for over an hour before heading to the Top Tier Event in the Royal Theater. 

The Top Tier Event is for Emerald and above Crown and Anchor members (those who have sailed 55 nights or more on Royal Caribbean) and is a recognition and celebration of Royal's most loyal cruise passengers. We love attending this event to meet new cruise friends and even meet the Cruise Director and Captain. We actually talked with the CD for over 20 minutes about cruises and the ships she had been on. This Top Tier Event did not off the Q&A session with the Captain like previous cruises but we enjoyed it nonetheless. 


I love the PRIVATE concert the Orchestra gave the Top Tier guests! 


This sailing stats for the Crown and Anchor Society!
NEXT TIME... We will be DIAMOND! 


The Captain of the Mariner of the Seas... Oddly enough, he collects CARS! 

Us with the Cruise Director- Lauren! She was so friendly! 


And our traditional picture with the Captain!

After this event we went to the Casino Bar and enjoyed getting to know that bartender and hear about his life back in the Philippians but before we knew it, it was already after 1PM so we hurried to the MDR for lunch. 


This bar was centrally located and easy to grab a drink and go (or not). 

Afternoon
The service in the MDR for lunch was MUCH faster but we have learned that the service often depends on when you arrive. Since the lunch service stopped in the MDR at 1:30PM, we were towards the tail end of the dining time and the waiters seemed to be in a bit more of a rush. This allowed our lunch to be in and out of the MDR within 30 minutes but we did have to take our desserts to go as we were just too full. 


The MDR Lunch menu (Sea Days only) 


Mozzarella Sticks 
Chris & Kellie- 4.5
These are really simple but we LOVE them and order them every time! 


The Potato Soup
Chris- 4.0
It needed more actual potatoes! 


The Royal Caesar Salad
Kellie- 4.5 
Exceptionally done this time! 


The Butternut Squash Risotto 
Kellie- 4.0
This is SO RICH but so very flavorful and delicious! 


The Lamb Pita 
Chris- 4.0
This was not as good as he remembered it being but he enjoyed it! 

We went back to the room to put the Key Lime Pie in the fridge and take a brief nap and then we went to the Royal Theater for the Love and Marriage Show. This show is always comical and this one did not disappoint but it was certainly our OLDEST set of 3 married couples- all over 50 years old (even the newly weds). 

We made our way up to the Viking Crown Lounge to get the most perfect view of the Lido Deck on the Mariner of the Seas. We really enjoy this area of Freedom Class ships and smaller as it allows crystal view of upper decks of the ship and it is in the AC. The bar oftentimes has various hours so be sure to check the Cruise Compass (or app) for more details! 


A view of the Main Pool Deck from deck 14 inside the Viking Crown Lounge. 

We went back to the balcony as it was in the shade and enjoyed the incredibly calm seas for nearly 2 hours before getting dressed for the evening and heading to Boleros. TIP- Boleros is not usually our favorite as it is usually live music central and oftentimes very loud and overstimulating but this venue was much smaller and way more "chill" than any other Boleros we have seen. We ended up spending a lot of time here throughout the cruise. 


The seas were PERFECT! 


This is the LIFE... Absolutely perfect seas and a balcony! 
It doesn't get much better than this! 


I love the 2x a day service provided for Suite guests and an additional towel animal each day! 

Let's Talk Ship- Day #2 



I am ready for Formal Night... let's do this! 


 I love getting dressed up on a cruise ship! 


Boleros is a HUGE hit with so many cruisers and this cruise was a hit with us as well! 

Evening
We went to the Royal Theater to watch the Gallery of Dreams production show and the singers and dancers were phenomenal and such a change of pace and upgrade from our most recent cruise on the MSC Seascape 2026 where the production was high school level- at best! These performers were literally SHOW STOPPING! Be sure to catch this show if you are sailing on the Mariner of the Seas in the near future.


This is a great show- Do not miss it! 

After this show we went to Playmakers to enjoy more of the World Cup before dinner. TIP- The service in Playmakers was some of the best we experienced on the ship. The bartenders not just knew up but knew our order and we're very social and friendly. We were also able to meet a few fellow cruisers and talk ship with them which is always nice. 

Dinner in the MDR was formal night and we expected more people on the 5th floor of the MDR but it was very scarce once again. And we were for the 2nd night the ONLY table in our waiter's section. This made service more personal and very fast. The menu for the MDR this formal night was Taste of France and the menu options were plentiful and delicious! We were in and out of the dining room on formal night in about 50 minutes. 


The MDR Taste of France Menu 


French Onion Soup 
Kellie- 5.0 & Chris- 5.0
Once again, it is famous for a reason! 


The Calamari
Kellie- 4.0
This was very chewy! 


Steak au Poivre
Kellie & Chris- 4.5
This was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the flavors were spot on! 


Seafood Linguine (Shared) 
Chris & Kellie- 4.5
This was SO GOOD... It's hard to pass up steak but this could be the main entree instead, it is THAT good! 


Creme Brulee' 
Chris- 4.5 & Kellie- 4.0
This is SUPER rich! 


Carrot Cake 
Chris- 4.5
He thinks this was better than the Creme Brulee! 

Let's Talk Ship- Sea Day #1 and Formal Night


After dinner we decided to go to the Pub to listen to the guitarist perform. He was performing all kind of music but we loved the Classic Rock style! We called it a night around 12:30AM. 


CHEERS! 


We loved John- the Pub Bartender! 


Cheers to Sea Day #1! 

This was a classic easy day spent aboard the Mariner of the Seas and we wouldn't have it any other way! 

Up next... Costa Maya, Mexico! 

Did you miss our 1st day? - Catch up HERE!

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
MSC Seascape- April 2026









 


Carnival Conquest- 2006


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Lost Shaker of Salt- Day 3

 Gala Night Sea Day #2 April 7, 2026 


We really enjoyed getting dressed up like the "good ol' cruising days". 
(At least I did)

Morning
Once we reached smooth sailing at approximately 9PM on Night #2, it was a very smooth cruise and this allowed for much better sleep but as a perimenopausal woman in her 40 forties, I was desperately needing a fan. The stateroom still stayed very cool compared to many other cruise lines we have sailed but the hot-flashes are not forgiving. We were up around 7AM and made our way to Loft Cafe for coffee and light pastries. TIP- The Loft Cafe on Deck 8 Forward is an incredible coffee shop that truly offers coffee shop vibes and has tons of seating. The coffee is a little more customizable here than anywhere else on the ship as well as they have several different syrup options. I also appreciate the fact it is a full service bar with bartenders. HOWEVER- The Full service was not great during the morning hours it seemed.
SMOOTH SAILING on Day #3
This is a GREAT option for breakfast and the pastries' were actually good.

Check out the Loft Cafe!


We went back to the room to enjoy the balcony in the shade before going to breakfast at Hola Tacos. TIP- This was easily the best food on the ship period. They offered traditional breakfast options like omelets but also Huevos Rancheros and even Queso. The service was just as good if not better than the MDR and Butcher’s Cut as we were in and out in less than 40 minutes. This is NOT to be missed while sailing on the MSC Seascape. 

Do not sleep on Hola Tacos-It as AWESOME!

The Hola Tacos Breakfast Menu

The Churros were not bad at all.

This queso was AMAZING... I cannot believe I ate this for breakfast but it was mighty tasty!

The Hola Tacos Breakfast Burrito was really good and I loved the fresh guacamole!

After breakfast we went back to the balcony as it was a gorgeous day and the seas were smooth as glass. We stayed on the balcony in the shade for over an hour before going to the Jungle Pool Beach Bar for freshly squeezed orange juice. TIP- The Jungle Beach Bar is the only place on the ship with a fresh OJ machine and it is delicious. This is free if you have the Premium Beverage Package and does not count towards your 15 drinks. We sipped our fresh OJ and laid out in the corner of the Jungle Pool area for over an hour. 

This is a perfect day aboard a cruise ship... AND even INSIDE with AC.


We then went to the Casino Bar and met a couple from Magnolia, just miles away from our hometown of Conroe, TX. We talked to them for a while before going to “Tour de Brunch” in the MDR. This brunch offered food from “around the world” with about 8 different main dish options. We arrived after 12PM and it was very busy, but we did not have to wait for a table which was nice. The service was not as good for this meal as I feel we were forgotten a bit. The food was mid-level at best but I enjoyed seeing all the offerings from other passengers' tables. 

The Main Dining Room Tour de Brunch menu (Sea Day #2)

The French Toast Kellie- 2.5

Carbonara Pasta Kellie-2.0 This sauce was awful... Flavor was not terrible!

Bread and Butter Pudding Kellie 3.0 & Chris- 3.0


Afternoon
After brunch we went back to the balcony and were able to stay in the shade for only about 30 minutes before it was fully in the sun and were HOT so we went to the Cabaret Lounge for afternoon trivia- we didn't win! But the wake view was absolutely perfect on this gorgeous day!
Balcony Selfie time...

This is why I cruise... and cruise SO OFTEN! This is absolutely PERFECT!

Hello Mariner of the Seas! We will see you in less than 2 months for "The Suite Life of Chris & Kellie"! Stay tuned for that!

We then went to the Cocktail Bar in the Specialty Restaurant Lounge. This very quickly became our favorite spot on the whole ship and gave Carnival Alchemy Bar vibes. The bartender Ashish Rao from Mumbai was incredible and the sole bartender at this bar. He made some of the best drinks I have had in a very long time. We sat at talked to him for a long time before leaving to go to Friend’s Trivia in the Cabaret Lounge. Unfortunately, I did not win but we still had fun! In fact, this is our first cruise EVER we have not won a single trivia!


We went to the Love and Marriage Show as the matinee in the Main Theater and it was funny and very well attended. TIP- Be sure to arrive at all shows in the Main Theater about 5-10 minutes early as there is not enough seating for 5,500 passengers and it gets really crowded in the last 10 minutes before a show. 

MSC Spa Entrance- Check it out!

We loved the layout of this Spa!


We opted to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon in the Infinity Pool area on Deck 8 aft. This was less of a pool and more of a shallow bathtub but we enjoyed the sun and the calmness of no kids. TIP- Even when sailing on “off-peak” weeks in the school year, we still had 1,269 passengers less than 18 years old on our cruise and I was a little shocked. I will say that most of the kids were much better behaved than Carnival or Norwegian clientele it seemed. 

Another view of the Infinity Pool from the Aft Elevators. Check out the AFT ELEVATORS:

Hello Cancun, Mexico!

Let's Get some GELATO!
Day 3- Let's Talk Ship
A gorgeous day on a cruise ship... everything else doesn't even matter!

Evening
We spent about 2 hours in the Infinity Pool and then showered and got ready for Gala Night onboard. TIP- Gala Night is MSC’s Formal Night and I will say that overall the guest were much more dressed up than our experience the past few years on Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. It very much reminded us of Princess Cruise Lines Formal Night and we liked that. 

We are all "prettied up" for Gala Night!

I (personally) LOVED getting to dress up for Gala Night!

Dinner in the MDR was not as nice as we would have thought for the “Gala Night” dinner and the service was not as fast as the previous two evenings; but it is a formal night and the service is just always slower. We also for the first time ordered "Two Entrees" as we wanted to share the Filet Mignon. Supposedly MSC charges $5 per additional entree beyond 1. We expected a charge and we did have a "charge" on our account BUT it was for $0. That could have been standard or it could have been since we mentioned the steak not being very good at all- It's hard to tell! It was also VERY HOT in our corner on this meal and by the time our dessert arrived, we were so hot we were uncomfortable! 


The MDR Gala Night Dinner Menu 


Lobster Bisque Chris- 3.0 & Kellie- 2.5 This was good flavored but it was not as rich or thick & creamy as I would personally prefer.

Caesar Salad Chris-1.5 & Kellie- 1.0 This seemed not even mixed together and the dressing had "clumps" in it!

Lobster Chris-4.0 (the whole dish but the Lobster itself was 2.0) Kellie- 2.5 overall

Filet Mignon Chris 2.0 & Kellie-1.0 This didn't even taste like the right cut of meat as it was very chewy and overcooked. Even the neighboring table had a tough cut of meat. The potatoes, asparagus and sauce were DELICIOUS and easily the most flavorful thing we had up to this point but we couldn't even finish this TINY steak!

Another look at this cut of "filet".

Baked Alaska Both- 3.5 We enjoyed this ending to our meal!

Gala Night Review
Overall, we really enjoyed this evening! 

After dinner we went back to the room to get into more comfortable clothes and then went to the Sports Bar for live music with guitarist Christo de Rey- this guy was INCREDIBLE and easily the most entertaining musicians we have experienced on any cruise! If you like Classic Rock, be sure to check him out!

He last set was over at 11PM so we went back to enjoy the balcony! I was not feeling 100% so I showered and went to bed early. Overall it was a great sea day aboard the MSC Seascape!

Up Next- Costa Maya, Mexico

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Harmony of the Seas- February 2026








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)