May B

I just read the menu to Mr B and he’s not excited. Can somebody please tellus what they’ve had there recently that they loved? We board three weeks from this Monday. I was really looking forward to the minestrone soup. Does anybody know about the lamb? Has the sea bass been seasoned better, since November?

Ugh.

My son reported that he went to the site of the old Newseum, and he accessed many front pages. I believe he said they had 400 of them, perhaps even 600. Burger night for us is Monday, so we’re not totally in synch.

I think there’s a (theoretically nice) salt-crusted fish. Sadly, Mr B deemed it bland, at best. I feel like I had lamb, but I don’t remember being impressed with that, either. I’ll be there in about 25 days, and the one thing I am definitely planning to order is the minestrone soup. I hardly ever order that, but somebody raved about it and posted a photo, and it absolutely looks worth a try. We like our seafood very gently cooked. Were the shrimp in the risotto actually translucent? Those would perhaps be too raw for me, too. But overcooked would be just as bad.

We ate at a two-top every night on our ocean cruise, always in The Restaurant. We went around 7 pm. Also always ate at a two-top for breakfast and lunch in the WC, either aft near the bar, or outside. I think outside may be four-tops but we always ate alone. Mamsen’s also has two-tops. And the Pool Grill. The only place I think I had to wait for a table was in Wintergarden for afternoon tea.

I got a river cruise brochure in the mail that touted an expiration date of June 30th. It’s called Summer Solstice sale. Ask for EBD.

Yes it is. I’m sure I learned it on Cruise Critic! It’s probably not foolproof, b/c somebody has to actually READ it. But at least you know you’ve done everything in your power to prevent it from happening.

We really like going to Rendezvous, or sometimes Cellar Masters, to listen to music before dinner. We check the hours in the daily newspaper or on the app. They take 15 minute breaks after playing 1/2 an hour or 45 mins.

I really like the Diamond Lounge on Royal. Freedom class was best (although I’ve only been on the smallest of the Royal ships).

Yucky drinks. The wine is perhaps the best. Or something like a bourbon and Diet Coke. Same at all the bars that are included. I think the Martini Bar may be excluded on all class ships, and the World Bar is excluded on E class. I think I’m correct on all of this, but perhaps somebody else has already responded.

Fun, and helpful to the community, to do both!

After this happened, have you been asking to have the notation PLEASE DO NOT MOVE CABIN ASSIGNMENT to all your future bookings? It means you need to remember to request it, each time. I think it’s worth the effort.

Wow, that was a good turnout. We’ve only done it on the Connie.

Well done! On your part, AND the parent company.

I remember you reported that. So, there IS a difference between ships!

Wow! I guess this shows that experienced cruisers know the value of a TA. Or have already been everywhere. Did you have a Music & Mixology event? We’ve attended two and loved them.

Vince, hopefully we’ll still have our picture-window staterooms to enjoy on Serenity and even Symphony, for years to come! I’m one who doesn’t even need them to “fix” the closet, for me to enjoy.

The Torah is the first thing Mr B said would be missing. True about a Mahzor. Tbh, this gentleman uses his own siddur for daily minyan, when he attends at my congregation. I can offer to lend him my Mahzor, given to Chai members. It’s really a good one. Maybe he was just teasing me when he said he’d email Special Needs. 😁

This is so right up my alley, I’m amazed that I didn’t figure it out myself. Thank you! And this gentleman has three different congregations he visits regularly (two different cities). One of them appears to have their various High Holy Day services archived on You Tube!

No, but now anytime is on the lower deck. Perhaps more are opting for it than the cruise you’re mentioning. We usually have a good view of the staircase between floors so I see what’s going on! And the wait staff marches all around, on the deck they work on, I think.

I believe battery-operated is more accurate, but of course not real fire. Except once on Azamara, the Israeli security guy was allowed to light real candles. That must’ve been a fascinating experience, on the ship where you were the only English-speaking worshippers. Do you recall what the prayer book had? When we went into the shul in Florence on Shavuot, the prayer book was (of course) Italian and Hebrew. We had to sit separately, and neither of us ever could figure out where we were in the book! In Istanbul, we arrived for the tail end of morning minyan, and again, we sat separately. I can’t remember that prayer book! Perhaps it was just in Hebrew.

Lois, I’ve been at Embassy Suites breakfasts over three-day weekends. They’re always packed, and many families with kids.

It isn’t I, but I’ll pass along that email address, for sure. Thank you! Was the prayer book a holiday prayer book? I think they have Gates of Heaven, and perhaps it’s Shabbat and holiday in the same book. Unknowingly, I can understand. On purpose, was more surprising to me. That must’ve been quite nice, when you had already met the cruisers at a Friday night. Challah and wine and safe candles are on every cruise line, I think. For a special treat, Crystal also has gefilte fish. On Viking, who made our tenth for minyan? The captain of the vessel!

And with many choices of bread. Believe me, I was truly surprised that my friend who attends a.m. minyan twice a week and a Shabbat service, pretty much always, has purchased a cruise over Rosh Hashanah.

You should have been invited to the Elite breakfast, where you would go for complimentary specialty coffees. It sounds like you might’ve missed that? But it starts at 8 am. I can’t remember if it’s on disembarkation day or not. I agree, I love the Diamond Lounge and the drinks posted to sea pass card on Royal.