Day 7: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 (end of leg 1, start of leg 2)

Even though we're staying onboard for the next cruise we're still subject to the timelines followed by those who have to go home today, so we were up at 715A in order to shower and head down to Windjammer at 8A for breakfast.  We, however, did not have to pack up our gear or clear out of our stateroom.  Instead, we headed to the Music Hall, which served as a waiting lounge for B2B passengers, of which there were probably about 60 or so people.  They checked us off a list, asked us if we were staying onboard or going ashore, assigned us to groups 41-43, and handed us an envelope with our new SeaPass cards plus a small card saying something like “In-Transit Passenger", which I think only mattered for those planning to go ashore.

We waited in the MH through all the various announcements about which luggage tags were being called to exit the ship.  At 9A they had announced all luggage tags, but they didn't issue a final call until 930A.  At about 940A we were all escorted by Royal folks and exited the ship (scanning out and having our old SeaPass cards confiscated) walked down through the luggage warehouse (where we saw one set of unclaimed luggage, so clearly we were held back until all other folks had left Customs), and processed through the Customs face-scanners within minutes.  We then all turned around to be escorted back onboard, scanning in with our new SeaPass cards.  By 10A we were back onboard and had the ship to ourselves!

We decided to continue lounging in the Music Hall, listening to announcements to the crew that everyone should be at their embarkation stations by 1015A because they were going to start boarding new passengers at 1030A.  A few crew (likely dancers) came by and grabbed a couple of life jackets from a closest behind me before manning their station just outside the MH entry.  We stayed (pretty much completely alone) until heading down to the MDR (Chic dining room) where B2B cruisers were being given lunch.  The Key folks were all lined up at the neighboring Grande room for their lunch.  We sat at a table on a port-side window and enjoyed lunch before heading up to The Library to play The Crew.

As we came up the stairs inside two70 leading to The Library we took some time to consider what constituted “backstage" for this venue.  We decided that there were a couple of enclosed spaces L and R of the stage that clearly had to have hidden entries in the sections that were cordoned off from public access that contained stairways both up to the over-stage entries and down to the under stage areas where the lifts could be loaded and actors could crossover to the other side.  Whether there was enough space on the level of the assumed doorways to do quick changes is unknown.  They probably have to do quick changes on the stairs or under the stage.  (We would turn out to be wrong re: location of the stairways.  Turned out that they were at either side of US and fully visible during the shows.  Either they had been covered when I did my exploration or I was just so focused on looking for non-existent doors that I completely overlooked giant down staircases!)

Anyway, we played The Crew until 330P and then it was time to go grab some finger foods at Café Promenade (for E) and pizza at Sorrento’s (for me).  Eileen carried those up to the room while I went over to Boleros to get my sail away Hand Crafted Margarita and E's Mai Tai.  The balcony was a few degrees cooler than it had been for the prior week's departure, so E hung out just inside the cabin while I lounged outside, but once underway we both moved inside while I got caught up on these notes.

We officially updated our MTD time to 630P last night.  On Quantum they apparently now have 3 “official" seatings: 5P, 630P, and 8P – and since a 630 start puts less stress on trying to make events that start at 8P we were happy to move from 645P.

Given that this cruise is going to basically be the same as the last cruise as far as events go, we're anticipating that our evenings this time might be more music oriented since we didn't take in many of the acts onboard during the past leg.  With that in mind, our post-dinner activities were 8P at Boleros to listen to The Latin Town, and 9P at the Music Hall to listen to their rock/dance band, Puslo.  The Latin Town was a female lead singer on bongos, another woman on keyboard and backing vocals, a male drummer/vocalist, and a male bass player.  They were fine – and we answered our question of whether or not the Boleros dance floor got used.  It was heavily trafficked during their set.  Over in the Music Hall we were sitting out of sight of Pulso, but I did confirm it was a typical 3-player band plus female vocalist.  They were quite good – but the lead singer of the Brilliance band was better.  I can see us potentially seeking them out on future nights.

As we passed by the Pub on our way back to our stateroom I can see why our intentions to go listen to the guitarist keeps remaining unfulfilled.  The Pub on all cruises is crowded, noisy, and generally has uncomfortable wooden chairs.  So our desire to listen to different music is generally trumped by our desire to sit in comfort.