The Basics, or What’s Not in Order.

December 31, 2022

After unpacking on Thursday, knowing that Friday - New Year’s Eve, was a Sea Day and THEY didn’t have to be anywhere for an early shore excursion, Room service for Continental Breakfast was in order.  

As such, Chucky started looking for the Room service Door hanger for breakfast. There are usually a handful on the desktop but there were none to be found.  So he puts in a call to the steward to deliver some.

In the meantime SHE is looking for tissues. Nope, none in the bathroom slot under the counter, none on the desk, and after a search of all drawers, the “back up” box was found in the back of the desk drawer.  OK, maybe the steward was rushed and forgot to put a fresh box in the bathroom slot. 

 

This then triggered the search for what else may be missing.  Things that you naturally don’t miss until you look to use them.  Like: spare toilet paper [the roll in use was half gone].  Hand soap – none.  Toiletries [shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer] also missing in action. Hence another call to the steward to also bring these other missing goodies.

 

Also, Chucky brought some Thick Protein shakes and apple sauce, just in case he has trouble with his pills and other swallowing issues and… well, just because SHE insisted he bring some.  And of course… the in-room Fridge is warm prompting another call for the steward to check why the fridge is hot.

 

The first knock was a maintenance dude who proceeded to feel the inside and declare, “It’s running!  Give it time and if in a couple of hours it’s still not cold, call again.”  Uh… Ok.

2 hours later, luke-warm, but still not cold – so just before they headed to happy hour, another call  to swap it out.  Which may or may not have happened.  But after dinner Thursday night it was a bit cooler, not COLD.

 

Second knock was a dude with 2 – count ‘em - 2 Room Service Door Hangers, 2 rolls of toilet paper and toiletries and... 2 boxes of tissues.  He says the regular steward will show you how to put them in the bathroom slot.  

SAY WHAT? 

I should be putting the box under the counter, isn’t that YOUR job?

 

Knock Three, while Chucky is coming out of the shower and SHE is on the balcony reading, is the REAL Room Steward who apologizes for the dude #2 who was just filling in and  "knows nothing". 

He Mayank [the REAL steward] has 17 cabins on the other side of the elevator lobby and just 2 cabins on our side. He then goes on to explain why the Tissues aren’t, and won't be in the bathroom slot anymore.  People have taken to using them and then throwing in the toilet rather than the trash bin under the sink.  Facial tissue does not break down in water like 1 ply toilet paper and if too much gets in the ships drainage system it tends to clog up the line, which backs up everyone’s drainage all the way back to the first drop into the line.  Think of the Carnival “Poop Cruise” a few years back.

OK, we understand now. Mayank, [the Real Steward] apologizes again while acknowledging that due to the Covid issues they are short staffed “Big Time”, hence dude # 2’s not knowing about the Tissue Issue.

 

Room service arrived Friday at the requested 8AM and nothing much happened until L&D, & C&I met for Brunch in the main dining room on deck 4, which was about to take a sour turn.

 

First, the salad bar with omelets to order, select entrees not on the menu and carvings, was, due to the Covid Protocol, not available. 

Next, once seated entrees once ordered, were slow to come and mixed up, service was hap hazard and Donna’s Lamb on Pita was all dry gristle on cardboard hockey puck pancakes masquerading as Pita bread. 

No attempt to correct the issue was offered by the staff and no management was in sight.  Deciding it might just be an anomaly, they were getting apprehensive about lunch in the main dining room.

 

For the rest of the day everyone just chilled, while Chucky knocked out another Episode of the TE6 Saga, as it is being referred to.

 

Speaking of Saga’s... 

It is now Day 2 and on the way to happy hour we find S&E in line again at the Guest Services Desk about THEIR cabin issues.  Seems that upon boarding, they had a Horrible Toilet related odor in their bathroom and cabin, which apparently hadn’t been cleaned properly and the “Haz-Mat” type re-cleaning the day before, White suits and all, apparently had not solved the issue.  We'll see how this plays out as the drama continues to build.

 

At Dinner, one of the entrees was pretty tough and salty, other than that it was pretty uneventful.  

The Wait Staff, Anwar and Stefan are Exceptional. Maybe Mustafa’s first night visit set the tone as Assistant Head Waiter Gabriel WAS doing the peekaboo dance around the table often.  But we suspect that their totally professional, efficient attention was normal for them. 

Stefan did however seem to be struggling to keep the wine from dripping on the table and not the glass. So, of course, Chucky proceed to give him the usual “Easy Pour, Wrist-Twist Method” hints.  Now, no struggle, no drip.

 

After dinner cocktails were had in the Casino as everyone tried again to relieve RCCL of some more excess cash.

Some were successful, others just donated.

 

Then it was time to race up to Deck 12 to ring in the NEW YEAR while the Cruise Director [Cruzin Susan] got tongue tied on the countdown as we watched the Ball Drop above Times Square on the giant screen by the pool - which she almost fell into when she got off balance with an unexpected ship roll.  

The band played “Auld Lang Syne” while everyone faked the lyrics, hugged, kissed, drank champagne and wished everyone around HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

With the Wind kicking up, it was time to welcome the NEW YEAR from the warmth of their individual cabins with much anticipation of a better year to come.

 

And that… dear hearts and innocent bystanders was how TE6 spent NYE Day aboard the Jewel of the Seas, somewhere between Cuba and the Central American Coast.

 
Ciao 4 Now,
Uncle Chuck 

& The Praying 2022 will be Better, 
Dragon Lady