Travel R

Photos of an Alaskan Sunset:

B. Sunset There are sunsets, and then there are Sunsets. Vancouver welcomed us with a day of beautiful weather and wonderful temperatures. The evening met us with darkened clouds. The evening skies furnished us varied sights as the sun kissed the sea or hid itself behind the Alaskan mountains. Beautiful, yes, but nothing memorable. Nothing memorable until the final evening of our ocean adventure. I cannot remember from where we were coming from, nor our destination, but my DD and I were stopped in our tracks at the most wonderous colors emanating from the skies beyond. The vividness of the palate of colors painting the sky were a spectacle to behold. At a loss of words, all I can say is . . . breathtaking. As dusk faded into dawn on that final evening in this land of unsurmountable beauty, it was a fitting gift of Mother Nature to bid myself and my family a final farewell. [Note: I will be uploading photographs of the sunset, and they do no justice to the solar exhibition we had witnessed.] C. Evening Entertainment “The program for this evening is not new. You’ve seen this entertainment through and through.” [Jim Morrison] Although I may have complained in earlier posts about a lack of live performances or any decent big shows, the ship did provide a list of activities. Seemingly, I felt as though there was less to do compared to past cruises (on this or other lines). Could this be the because we are on an Alaska cruise? There was an absence of Lido Deck activities due to the “cold”?; a lack of staff or entertainers due to employment shortages, or was this merely a symptom of COVID? Regardless, I found at least something to do each night and did not spend my evenings twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do. If you were wondering about what entertainment was provided for us, below is a list of the various activities and entertainment available in the evenings . . . D. Comedy Show I will begin with the comedy show first, since it was the best of the live performances in the main theater. The comedian’s name was Aaron Edwards Hall. Although we missed his first family/PG rated show, we happened to catch his show later in the evening (after 10), which was deigned “for adults only.” The comic was funny and entertaining (maybe not Robin Williams, Seinfeld or Murphy funny, but he got a few laughs out of me) – although the material was more on the PG side than even close to XXX (especially if compared to the likes of Carlin, Pryor or Foxx); it is a cruise ship, so he has to keep it tamer than not, even for mature audiences. E. Welcome Show We missed the Welcome Show. After seeing the performances later in this cruise [spoiler alert] I did not miss very much. F. Imitators: Whitney Houston & Neil Diamond There were two live-performance shows. One hired performer that sang Whitney Houston, and the Cruise Director that performed the songs of Neil Diamond. We were too tired to see the Whitney show and had no desire to see the Diamond show after previously hearing the cruise director sing. The entertainer that belted out the Whitney tunes appeared during the Farewell show, which we did attend. Although she could hit some high notes, had a pretty good range, and could carry a tune, I did not care much for her. I felt that the arrangement of her songs were “off” for her voice and musical style. Sometimes the tempo was too fast or too slow, sometimes the pitch she sought was elusive, and the vocals did not reach the proper climax. Musical taste, like food is subjective. For a number of years I had written music / CD reviews for an entertainment website. Although I may not like the music (and I received albums for all genres of music) the artists and their songs were accessed on their own merit in comparison to other pieces within the genre or similar musicians. I would not compare the vocalist we saw to Whitney (not many can compare, but did so to other impersonators and vocalists of this type of music). For this cruise review I am refraining from the use of much more flowery verbiage where I would also labor on each and every word. For me (and it is subjective) she did not seem to exude any on-stage charisma. She has some talent (even plays a few instruments), and in the long run, I wish her luck,. I think she needs someone like a George Martin, Rick Rubin, or Dr. Dre to mold and focus her talents. [PS: Having grown up in Brooklyn, and spending much of my younger days in Manhattan/Brighton Beach, I do have a few side-stories about Neil Diamond, but since I did not see the show, and I write for way too long as it is, I will save these tales for another time.] G. Big Movies Since there was a shortage of performance talent, the cruise director/activities director tried to make up for it (replace it) with onboard non-live entertainment. [Did you know: The current Cruise Director and the Activities Director aboard the Serenade are married?] One way was to show movies in the Tropical Theater (the main multi-level theater). One late afternoon I did take up the opportunity with my DD17 and took in a showing saw Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was nice watching a movie with my DD, and it was on the big screen. The plot line was not very intriguing, and the acting was so-so (that Zendaya girl from Dune was also in this movie, but I also remember her as a young kid in a show my daughters used to watch, and her acting has not much improved). There were some cool effects (although probably better in a real movie theater with high-tech speakers and surround sound). As an old-time comic reader/collector, I have never really been very happy with superhero movies; most are entertaining, but does provide the viewers with the same feeling of reading the actual comic where you need to envision all of the special effects in your own mind and the actors in my head are a lot better than the ones on screen. Interestingly, because RCI hired/acquired additional performers as the cruise got underway, some of the movie viewings originally scheduled on the Royal App were cancelled in lieu of the live shows. I am sure it will continue to get better as the season pushes on (both the number of performers, as well as the quality). As mentioned before, Carnival is one-up on RCI with their movies since they offered popcorn and RCI did not. H. Hush Party What is a Hush Party, you may ask? It is a dance activity in which the participants wear headphones playing music. The shtick is that the headphones play different music so that people on the dancefloor are dancing to different songs/rhythms. There are two different types of music playing (which can be switched back and forth by the participant), and the color or the headphone changes to coincide to the specific music. We did participate, but after about 15-20 minutes we had enough of this new experience and left the girls to boogie (although we never did dance with them). I think that it would have been even more enjoyable if three or even four different types of music channels were playing, but it is what it is. [Tip: they set up the stand/table to distribute the headsets at the entrance to the Safari Club. If you want to get on the line early, wait there about 10 minutes beforehand, and position yourself on line as soon as they bring out these two large black containers.] I. Karaoke This was a fun activity to watch. There were a few passengers that could sing, although most souls could not hit a tune. There was also an adorable 6-year-old that got up there and sang Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” that got the entire room rooting for her. This activity was held in the Safari Club, which as I had mentioned earlier, has very comfortable seats. There are also two bars conveniently located for drinks or sodas (although every now and then a waiter may come around to take your order, but the bartenders seemed overworked – with rarely more than one at each of the stations). To sing you need to pick your song and place your name on a list by the DJ. There is a sizable list of songs that are included in a book for you to choose. I was barred from singing by my family, and not because of my voice (which is admirably just a notch above a cacophony). Besides the Beatles, I also love the Stones and many times emulate Mick’s moves, even when singing non-Stones songs (Yes, I move like Jagger). They get embarrassed when I do, so I was banned. I almost convinced them to allow me to sing “Imagine” by John Lennon, but they had replaced Karaoke with the Hush Party on the evening I would have crooned that tune. Kudos for everyone that got up on stage to belt out a tune or two. Double kudos for those that were not drunk when they performed. J. Disco One of the things I had on my list of things to do on this cruise was to go to the disco. While I did make it to the Hush Party with my DW, we never did make it to the discotheque during the cruise. My DD22 tried to visit a few times, but either the venue did not have many people dancing, and when they did, they were not of her age groups, so she quickly made an exit. At least she tried. [As mentioned before, if they would have played music from the last decade or two, more younger adults would have probably come to dance or at least hang out.] K. Casino The thing I enjoy the most about gambling are the thrills and excitement. The excitement of wondering what card you will get next, which suit, and rank will be dealt to the dealer and your fellow players, and what the outcome will be – it can get intense. Love it! The greater the amount ante’d up, the higher the intensity. I enjoy the intensity, and a great way to get my mind off other things. However, I do not find it relaxing. I am guessing that I decided (subconsciously) to not even pass by the casino – there was a lot of running around and I wanted to spend my time in a relaxing state of mind. My DD22 and DW tried their luck with the slots, but nothing significant. Because of where our stateroom was located and most of the venues I visited, I rarely passed through the casino throughout the entire cruise. Maybe there was some force that wanted me to stay away? I’ve got major casino’s within a car ride away (and even went out to Vegas last year), so do not really think I missed anything by foregoing the giving my money to the black jack dealer and the coffers of RCI. L. Captain’s Talk We did not attend the talk due to a conflict with another activity. I did speak to another passenger later in the day that said it was interesting, but did not have much more to say about it. I believe that this is something that should be taped an put on the RCI channel at a later time for those of us that missed it. M. Production Shows: Stage to Screen and Vibeology The premise of the Stage to Screen show looked interesting. Snippets of Broadway musicals that were re-made into movies. I enjoy Broadway, I enjoy cinematic musicals, what can go wrong? The orchestra was very good as was the costume and stage design. Some of the dancers were excellent, and one of the singers was entertaining, but that is where the compliments end. As I have already stated, living so near Broadway, I am jaded. Many of the entertainers would not have made it off-off Broadway. They had some talent, but not enough to pull off such a production with numbers that hinged upon the strength of the vocals. Whoever produced these songs tried to incorporate their own angle on the stage direction, tempo, and feelings – all I can say is that they should not have messed with the original – their ideas and concepts did not come through (IMHO) with great success, or maybe the talent could not provide the punch that it needed. [But then again, to some a shovel with etchings of flowers is art.] The singers and dancers, as mentioned, have talent and tons of energy, but the result was a mediocre production at best. Had I had known, I would have much rather spent the evening sitting at one of the smaller venues mulling over a half-full glass of diet coke (being an optimist) listening to the entertaining melodies of a solo pianists. We had previously attended the Vibeology Show a day or two prior. It was the same caliber of song and dance. It barely entertained for the 45 minutes and would not have been upset if we missed it. The ship also provided a duet show that included two of the singers from the production crew. Although the female was the highlight of the quartet of vocals for the prior show, I did not enjoy either of the male singers. My DW agreed, so we decided avoid the Tropical Theater when the duet was performing. [Tip: This duet production was not on the Royal App until the day of sailing. If you have not yet sailed, keep checking, since things can and will change.] N. Farewell Show The Farewell Show, like all other Farewell Shows on every other cruise I have ever been on was a mish-mash of different act that performed during the week. The cruise director and activities director did their thing and did not care for it. The comedian did a short routine and was funny. The musicians played some instrumentals, and they were very good. The Whitney Houston impersonator (Stephani Parker) appeared, and we left towards the end of her set (we did not enjoy her – see my comments above). While we were leaving, members of the staff were lining up to walk in to be honored after the Whitney singer (if we had remembered that they usually do that, we would not have left). In sum, we were not impressed with most of the performances on this cruise (this should be of no surprise) – maybe the activities director should have stuck to showing the movies. In the long run, it really did not matter or affect the enjoyment of our cruise. Great entertainment would have been a cherry on the top of a Jahn’s “Kitchen Sink,” but I still have all that great ice cream and other toppings to remember. Up Next . . . Exploring the City of Steam

A. Colorful Commentary A young boy was sitting on the lap of his grandfather looking out at the beach and seaside before him from their little fishing hut. The hut was put together with a frame of whale bone and a blanket of skins. The hour was getting late and they were waiting for the men to return from their hunt. Although the village was currently well supplied with food, a good hunt would provide for the lean cold winter ahead. It would also be nice to have something other than dried salmon. No boats had yet appeared. Did this mean that they were successful and would be coming home with whale to help supply the village with meat, fat, skins, and a great deal more or are they down on their luck, rowing further and further away since they have found no prey. The late evenings sun began to descend from the heavens and back into the Raven’s sack until it was time to release it again the following day. The young boy always enjoyed this time of day, since the skies were adorned with a myriad of colors, many he cannot find anywhere else in the waking world. He pointed out towards the direction of the sun and asked his grandfather “who paints the sky before the dark?” The grandfather closes his eyes and thinks back to a time long ago when he had asked the same question, receiving the same answer. He was simply told that it was a gift of the Raven so that we may remember the warmth and nourishment of the sun when it is stored away, especially during the long nightfall. He was never satisfied with that answer and wanted to see for himself how the sky is so beautifully colored. After he had been initiated as a man, he took to the rituals of his elders, but was always looking over the horizon instead of the work at hand. One day his youthful restlessness got the best of him. He took a few stores of food and supplies, got into his small kayak and paddled away in the direction of the settling sun. Many days later he had come to the last of his supplies and fresh fish was not to be found. Hungry and almost ready to join his ancestors he came upon a small village upon the shore of an island. Once he came ashore, he collapsed from malnutrition and hunger. The inhabitants that numbered a dozen and called for the young man giving him medicines, drink, food, and a warm bed to sleep. When the man awoke, he was welcomed as though he were a member of their tribe. When asked, how he could repay them for their kindness, they refused any compensation. When he was almost well the patriarch of the clan asked him where he was going next. He told her the story of the sunset and his grandfather’s answer, and that he was going to discover how the sunsets were made. She laughed at his answer, and asked the man “did you enjoy our hospitality?” He replied, yes, greatly so. She asked another question, “Did you ever ask us why we helped such a stranger? We could have easily let you die.” He looked up puzzled and stated, “I never thought of it, I thought you are being nice and accepted it.” The old woman smirked, paused a few seconds, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, why then will you not just accept the answer of your grandfather? Enjoy the gifts of people and the gifts of the great spirit, without wondering about the why. The colors of the sunset, the dancing lights of the north, the graceful soaring of the great eagles, the simple beauty of a flower. These are all wonderous gifts for us to enjoy. A few days later the villagers had re-supplied the young man’s provisions and now being fit to travel he was going to set off. The patriarch asked him, “where are you going.” With a big smile on his face, he responded “Home to enjoy the gifts that life has shared with me.”

“Never go too long without watching a sunset.” [Atticus]

8 PM till ??? After the Sunset

Although, I have talked about going to one of those mystery trip companies (you tell them how much you want to spend and answer your questions and you do not know where you are going until you get to the airport), and we have taken many road trips on the spur of the moment, I am not sure I like the idea of taking an impulsive cruise (although our Canada cruise was booked within three weeks of the sailing). One thing I have been thinking about when it comes to a river cruise is that many sites and videos state that a river cruise is very "regimented." I like to plan things, but may need to pull back on my reigns when it comes to the river cruise itself.

More dinner time photos . . . . Prime Rib Lobster tail A few more desserts, including the Happy Graduates cake. If I remember correctly, the chocolaty-looking dessert in the ramekin was a no sugar added mouse (if so, that was excellent). Because I am in training and had tons and tons and tons of sugars and carbs during the day and the meal (e.g., full baked potatoes), I usually went with the No Sugar Added deserts or fruit to balance out the meal, while still satisfying my sweet tooth. Why so many photos of the desserts? Well, that was the best part of most meals.

Dinnertime Photos: And might as well begin with the best part, the desserts . . . . My DW enjoyed the Crème Brulee (not as good as NCL's, but good enough) Chocolate Cale Fruit platter (where are the bananas?) Cannot remember if this was the steak??? Tiger Shrimp Me in my Tigger and Winnie the Pooh tie after getting back to the cabin after dinner (I had already lost the jacket) I do have a number of great photos of my family, but made a promise not to show any of them.

Then RCI needs to find a different operator.

Hopefully the later will not come to fruition, but good to have them there just in case it does. Although not an agent in the traditional sense, if I did not book the flights to our last cruise via Air2Sea, we may have missed the cruise altogether.

Thanks - I will keep those in mind when I talk to the TA. We will be staying in Roma for a few days before flying to whatever port we are departing from (and will also need a hotel for at least a day prior to cruising), so whatever perks they have will be a nice benefit.

Thank you very much. As you can see so far, I am not shy about asking questions. Please expect more in the future. I do enjoy the planning aspect of not only cruises, but all vacations. The fact that river cruises are new and different is not daunting to me, but a challenge I look to conquer. In my signature next to the listing for this cruise is a Pre-Review (entitled the 99 Day Journey), where I went through all of the planning I did for the recent Alaskan cruise - how I planned, why I planned, and all the other things (budgets, personal, etc.) that go into the vacation experience. I know others that just hate this aspect of vacations. My DW, for instance, is not a planner. She will be on the big decisions, but would rather not deal with the details. She leaves those to me, and I have never disappointed.

C. Dinner in the Windjammer We did not have the occasion to dine in the Windjammer this cruise. As noted (in the section on lunch) that my family did not enjoy either breakfast or lunch at the venue, so we opted to go to the MDR for our evening meals. One thing I had forgotten to mention is that (at least during the lunches we were there) they did not serve a simple dish of rice and beans (it was on the MDR menu as an accompaniment) or even Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice). I have also been very, very busy at work, so last week I made a quick dish of chicken tikka masala with the sauce out of a jar (I am so ashamed), but even this dish was a lot better than what they served in the MDR (and their Indian food was one of the better offerings at the buffet). D. Dinner in Specialty Restaurants We did not frequent any of the specialty restaurants during this sailing. I am not sure if the food in these venues would have been more palatable during this cruise, but our experiences in the past at the up-charging venues have been less than stellar. Besides experiencing some mishaps in the food ordered, we never found it to be so much better to warrant paying extra for food when we are already paying for a meal in the MDR or buffet. Although the dishes are much better plated and you are dining a nicer atmosphere (presentation makes up 50% of how food tastes), I do not think it would have made much of a difference – especially if those venues were experiencing staffing and supply chain issues. [Food for Thought: According to an article in Scientific American, the appearance of food can dramatically affect how it tastes to us.] E. MyTime Dining I was apprehensive about dining on this cruise. I had chosen MyTime (or whatever it is called on other ships, e.g., Any Time Dining) since there were some long days where we would not return to the ship until later in the evening. Due to the time differential between the east and west coast, I thought that an earlier seating time would be better for our internal clocks to process. So, I took the earliest MyTime slot I could find (6:45, although MyTime seating began at 6:30, which were unavailable) and scheduled us fo 8 PM reservations for the days we had late excursion. Not long afterwards, I was reading horror stories (on other ships) via CCC on how there were 30 to 45+ minute waiting times for MyTime tables even for advanced reservations. My fears were unfounded on the Serenade. We did not experience any waiting longer than 5-10 minutes (maybe 12 max). On the second formal night, there was a long line, but 2 minutes after we arrived the maître de asked if any parties of 4 wanted to share a table, we said yes, and were seated almost instantly. [A very good choice for a few reasons, as you will read in the next subsection.] MyTime dining worked out very well for us. We were able to eat at the earlier hour when desired, yet were able to switch it up to a later time for other evenings where needed. The only one glitch was when I tried to reserve my DD’s cabin along with ours. Their reservation #/cabin was associated with ours. However, when I made the reservations online theirs did not appear in their planner. I tried contacting RCI through their online form, but did not get an answer, so I called. [PS: They still have not responded to that inquiry or a later email another I had sent.] When I called, the agent said that since their reservation was already associated with mine not to worry and they will be seated with us. After arriving online at the MDR on the first evening, when we were asked for our cabin #s by the maître de my DDs were not on the list. However, that was very quickly resolved (by making a few notations into his computer) and we did not experience any seating issues going forward. [Tip: Although most cruise line agents you speak to are usually knowledgeable and always very nice, there is usually a gap in their knowledge. This is not the firs time I had received incorrect information from an agent, and have read many other stories on Cruise Critic. So, please beware the info received, and if possible, try to confirm its veracity; a good place to double check information is the members of Cruise Critic.] F. Mystery Dinner Unfortunately, the Mystery Dinner has not yet been re-activated for this itinerary (most likely due to shortage of staff). It would have been an activity my family would have enjoyed partaking. If you have never attended one – if run correctly they can be loads of fun. G. Formal Night G1. Formal Night Guidelines I will not use this space to discuss whether there is or is not a formal night according to RCI’s guidelines. There is, and formal night is not “suggested” (they suggest the types of attire to wear because they need to spell out what is considered formal since many people may not know) and I really despise the dissemination of misinformation to the contrary. Nor am I going to argue whether the guidelines include wearing shorts for dinner in the MDR – there is, but there are exceptions. However, I will provide a related experience from this cruise. I had the opportunity to speak to one of the waiters about dress attire. I did not ask specifically about formal night, but my inquiry was directed to the wearing shorts during dinner in the MDR. He responded that waiters will not say anything to a passenger about what they are wearing unless it is extremely inappropriate (e.g., very, very revealing, which rarely happens) or dangerous (e.g., wet bathing suit that can cause puddles and people can slip) – UNLESS another passenger complains. If another customer complains the waiter is to notify the maître de, who will investigate further. The reason why most people wearing shorts are not asked to leave is because no one looking, no one is complaining, and no one really cares. If you were asked to put on big-boy pants, it was because one of your fellow passengers complained. The waiter was also funny, stating that most waiters (and maître des’) will compliment passengers on what they wear, no matter how ugly – and sometimes the uglier the outfit, the more compliments the passenger will be given. I will note that the overwhelming amount of people on my sailing did not wear shorts on any given evening in the MDR (and the few that did, many likely had their luggage lost by the airlines). As for shirts on formal night, or any night – I really did not care or bother to look (on the other hand, shorts were a topic of discussion on CC before I left, so it weighed on my mind). As for me, I wore a suit, button down shirt, and tie for both of the formal nights (a polo shirt was worn for each of the other evenings). My DW and DDs wore dresses each of the nights, with the dressier being on the formal nights – and all three looked amazing! Myself and my family enjoyed dressing up – which is what matters most. To me, it is just part of the cruise experience, and except for taking up extra room in the suitcase, I do not find it to be a burden to dress up or much of an inconvenience. G2. That Night We Shared A Table One of the formal nights was our best meal of the cruise, and it had nothing to do with the food. As mentioned above, it was crowded (formal nights were the two most crowded nights in the MDR) and while we were on line waiting to enter the maître de asked if any parties of 4 would like to sit together. I looked at my DW and she nodded, so I quickly raised my hand, as did the group behind us. [I know that some prefer to dine privately, but I miss the days when they would sit you with other passengers. The conversation is sometimes the best part of the dinner.] We were directed to sit down at a top-8 and quickly realize that there was a language barrier. The other party was from Mexico and predominantly spoke Spanish, and we spoke English. So, what do you do when you a barrier gets in your way? You break it down. Most meals in the MDR were no longer than an hour and 15 minutes, with one or two being an hour and a half. This was the one exception. We communicated in broken Spanish and broken English for over two hours and had a great time doing so. It was an exceptional example of how people from two parts of the world, two cultures, and two different languages could sit down to a meal and partake in good conversation. I cannot remember what I had to eat that night, but I will remember for years to come the good times spend with this family during this cruise. The one exception was a single item on the menu. They listed some type of taco as an appetizer (PS: on the Royal App, they were able to view the menu in Spanish) and the look on the father’s face was priceless when he took the first bite to eat it. He looked at me, I nodded, and we both laughed. Although I do miss the days we all sat together, the tables were set within very close proximity to each other, which many times allowed for the opportunity to converse with the diners next to us. We did so on many occasions when the other diners seemed willing, although with others, after a few words we could get the hint that they were not as willing to be sociable (which is okay; not everyone wants an annoying (former) New Yorka chatting your ear off while you are trying to enjoy your dinner). G3. Graduation Cake I would be remiss to not mention the evening that our waiter served us a Graduation Cake to recognize my daughters. It was a chocolate cake and they decorated it with “Congratulations Graduates.” Yes, I know, desserts are complimentary, but it was a very nice touch. The night we shared the table with the other family, they also brought out a birthday cake for their daughter and we all sang her “Happy Birthday” / “Feliz Cumpleanos.” [It’s the little things.] [Did You Know: According to many experts, the “Happy Birthday” song had it’s start in 1893 when two teachers (and sisters) wrote a song titled “Good Morning to All.” The happy birthday lyrics we combined in 1912 and the first known publication of the song was in a songbook in 1924.] G4. In Memory of Mom and Dad On the day prior to departure, I thought I had an entire afternoon to sit back and reflect on what I wanted to say or read in memory of my mom and dad. She loved cruising; it was one of her happy places. My father would have loved Alaska. But the mousetrap did not work as promised, and as you had previously read, I was provided with absolutely none of that time. Without much preparation, during the first formal night I recited a few nice words about my parents and simply asked my family for a minute of silence. Although it was very simplistic, it brought a tear to my eye, and I almost lost it and teared up completely, but I held it together. It was short and without any pomp and circumstance, but it was just right. There were many times during the cruise that I thought of them – there were many times I saw something that reminded me of them, or I would say to myself “I can’t wait to tell my mom/dad about this,” but then sadly remembered I could no longer. ☹ Up Next . . . . The Sunset and Beyond

B. Dinner in the MDR Our dining experiences in the MDR were, for the mot part, superb. The wait staff, and we were served by more than one team, were all excellent. I can throw them nothing at them but praise. The venue was nicely decorated – a mix of 1950’s elegance with a touch of throw back sophistication to the long-past days of luxury cruising. Our surroundings were possibly over-the-top aesthetics for a mid-level mass passenger cruise line, but I liked it; and the white linen cloths on the tables added to its appeal. The venue has seen its share of wear and tear over the years, and it can be noticed, if one takes the time to look (so don’t look), with the most noticeable being the loss of translucence of the windows (which I have mentioned earlier) in addition to stains on the rugs. But overall, the venue was to our liking and had no complaints. [Tip: The dining room occupies both Decks 4 and 5, but MyTime Dining was being seated on Deck 4. There were two lines, one for advanced reservations, one another for those that had not prearranged their seating.] And now time to discuss the food. [I take a deep breath. I take another. I then reach for the Gatorade I had set out next to me and take a slow sip as I contemplate what I am about to write. I am then ready to begin.] I have already provided my whole shtick about being a critic, and how it is easy to tear apart an item that is as subjective as the perfect color to paint one’s living room. No need to repeat that, but I will again restate that I did not go hungry, although some in my family may over-exaggerate on that matter. Point blank, the meals overall were average, especially when compared to food served in the MDR during past cruises on RCI or their competitors. From day one, my expectations were left hanging off a cliff, waiting upon each subsequent night to be rescued from obscurity and swept off to a culinary paradise. The cavalry never arrived, but from time to time a brave soldier did provide respite to our culinary isolation. With all that being said, and to overuse an already overused quip on CC, “food is subjective.” I do not have the time or the patience to assess every appetizer, entrée, or dessert we had ordered during the entirety of the seven days. I am also not in the mood to malign the items I abhorred (one diner’s chopped liver and peanut butter sandwich could be another person’s pate). There were things to eat. I cannot say I found anything inedible – some items were too cold, too tough, too salty, too bland, etc. All in all, I was able to shove every last morsel into my mouth and lived to tell the tale. [Yes, I could go down the list one-by-one and provide suggestions on how they could be made better, most of you do not care, and if I do, it will be because a cruise line is paying me to do so; I am taking offers, so who wants to lay out the cash?] In the following paragraph are the highlights. I may be of interest to note that for the sake of all of all my readers, in order to provide a more informed review, I had suffered the ordered of two entrees on 5 of the 7 nights, and did not repeat any dishes, so I did have an opportunity to attempt the consumption of 12 different entrees during the cruise. This is in addition to tasting dishes that my DW and DDs had ordered for themselves. Offered each evening is a “Classic Menu” providing the same four items: Herb-Crusted Salmon, Roasted Chicken Breast, New York Strip Steak, and Spaghetti Bolognese. I did not take my chances with the Spaghetti, but none of my family members cared for it. My DD17 ordered the Roasted Chicken, which I tried, and found it favorable. I had the opportunity to personally test out two items on the Classic Menu, and my critique is as follows: Herb Crusted Salmon – I am in Alaska, so I wanted to ensure I had salmon at least once. This dish was a huge surprise. Although I am biased towards breaded anything, when poorly executed, the results could be a disaster. It was cooked almost to perfection and the breading was unexpectedly enjoyable; not over-spiced, and the flavors came through, even after cooking it en masse. I was truly expecting something very bland where I would need to save it with some type of sauce or condiment. Not the best fish I ever had in my life, but I would recommend. [Food for Thought: There are seven species of salmon in Alaska. Most of the salmon you put on your table most likely came from the 49th state.] Steak (complimentary) – When I see steak on the menu outside of a steakhouse, I always think a very tough slab of meat that has little to no flavor and was expecting as much. I ordered their New York strip figuring that a steak, regardless of quality, would be a nice compliment to the lobster tail for a make-shift surf and turf. Contrary to my prior preconceptions, this was a dish I had very much enjoyed. The meat was cooked exactly the way I wanted it (medium-well); very tender to the bite, and well flavored to the taste. I was delighted by the dish, and if had discovered this earlier in the cruise, the steak would have been my go-to (every other night). On our cruise next year, no need to upcharge at Chops, I’ll order two steaks and leave the dining room a very happy man. The following items appeared on the non-classic menu: Beef Tenderloin – This was the best dish served in the MDR during the entire cruise. I was expecting something tasteless smothered in some type of horrible sauce that is usually served at an affair like a wedding. This dish was the unexpectedly the opposite. It was tasty and so tender it practically melted in your mouth. My DD17, who is a picky eater absolutely enjoyed the dish as well – which is saying a lot. She kept on the lookout for this dish during every subsequent meal to no avail [you can look on the app at future menus, but sometimes the menu does change]. Yes, I know that it is possible to ask for a particular dish to be made again, but know how much the chefs already have to do (not to mention staff shortages), but since there is no medical/allergy reason, didn’t want to be that person. Interestingly, the Prime Rib was served twice, and was exactly how you would have expected it at an affair – cold, bland, and tough. Escargot – Escargot is not a dish I have very often at home, and although I may order snails in China Town (NYC), it has been a long while since I have been there (and it is a cooked and served in a completely different sauce). Escargot is a treat I traditionally order while cruising and was upset that our past Baltic cruise had none (they had something, maybe scallops, in a garlic and butter sauce, but just not the same). This appetizer was just as good as I remembered – especially after the snails are all gone and sopping up the remaining butter sauce with a piece of bread. It is also a dish that is a usual hit for me: garlic + butter, a wonderfully tasty combination how can you go wrong. Just as an aside – Escargot, Shrimp Cocktail (which was “okay,” but not many in the serving), and Caesar Salad (also nothing to write home about) were on the menu for dinner every evening. [Food for Thought: Escargot may have originated in France. The best snail for this dish is supposedly the wild-snail that slithers in the mountains of the Eastern Alps.] Fried Chicken – My DD17 ordered this dish, not I. However, once she began to take some in, she began to exclaim how good it was. She could not finish it all, so being the wonderful father that I am, I “helped her” to clean her plate. I have to say it was very tasty with a very crisp outer layer, and a lot better quality that what you may get at a KFC (if you were wondering). The best fried chicken I ever ate is in a little place in New Market, Virginia, and this was only a notch below. Caribbean Jerk Pork Chop – This was not a highlight, it was good, but not great. But I am adding this to illustrate a point. Many dishes did not make it to this list because they were too bland or not cooked properly. One instance where the blandness stood out was the Caribbean Jerk Pork Chop. When I hear Jerk, I think of spicy Jerk sauces [there are variations]. This dish was seasoned, but it had absolutely no spike or kick. My waiter must have been watching me while I took a bite and asked me if I was enjoying it – I said, it tasted okay, but was missing any real spice. The waiter went back to the wait station and brought me back some hot sauce (tabasco). I appreciated the thought, but does anyone see what’s wrong here? If not, let me tell ya . . . .although the tabasco would have spiced up the dish, it is not the same taste as I would have received with a proper jerk sauce. I know that they are making the dish “American Spicy,” but would have enjoyed if they prepared it at half the traditional heat. It was served with Rice and Beans and Plantains to make it look authentic, but it was all window dressing. [Food for thought: The etymology of the name “jerk” may have derived from the Spanish word charqui, which was a term used to describe “jerked” or dry meat. The term has come to refer to a spicy rub added to meats. The art of jerk cooking came from the Arawak and Taino People. The most common ingredients used for jerk rubs include allspice and chilis (most traditionally Scotch Bonnet), and I have seen a lot of recipes that also include cinnamon, thyme, and sometimes cumin.] Broiled Lobster Tail – No this was not the best lobster tail I have ever had – far from it. Not due to how it was cooked, it is not (nor has ever been) tails from the highest-quality lobsters. However, they are served on Lobster Night! Whereas there is no parade of the wait-staff dancing around the room with bake Alaska (even in Alaska, although it was on the menu) and missing some of the past fanfare, there is still a feeling, a special vibe I feel on that night (which usually coincides with formal night). Maybe my mind is conjuring the ghosts of the past, or maybe some of that spirit still resides on cruise ships even to this day. One thing is for sure, I am slowing down. I only consumed three lobster tails (along with my steak) on that evening. Before I forget, a shout-out to the butter sauce, which makes it complete. [Food for Thought: There are many arguments on CC about lobsters and how good or bad it is. One argument I find interesting is that the lobsters being served are lower quality. Let’s take a look at this. There are two main types of lobsters being roasted or boiled-up in most kitchens, red lobster and rock lobster (also known as spiny lobster). Red lobsters (in most people’s estimation) is better than rock lobsters. They are usually more succulent, not as dry, and more flavorful. The rock lobster does have a great taste, but not a true replacement. You will also usually see red lobsters served whole, since rock lobsters have much smaller claws and the meat no as edible – which makes them more beneficial to be served for their tails only. Rock lobsters also freeze a lot better, which makes them also ideal for cruise ships or chain restaurants. All that being said, I am sure only 1 out of 100 of the people enjoying this dish on lobster night could even tell the difference. I know, but I still do not care because of two words . . . butter sauce.] Desserts – If I listed each one that could be a highlight, the list would almost be all-inclusive. I do not think any of us had a dessert that any of us disliked – from the simple to the elegant they were all scrumptious, and even some of the no-sugar-added, were not bad. If you look to execute a the menu strategically based on my recommendations, I have included four entrees to definitely enjoy on four of the nights, leaving you only three evenings to either re-order those items that are on the specialty menu, be adventurous with other menu selections or chose an alternate venue such as the Windjammer or a specialty restaurant. But be adventurous and try some of the menu options - you will not know what you like unless you try.

A. Color Commentary The following is short story about one unforgettable night after a long-day’s excursion. It may have been after arriving on the ship after our outdoor adventure into the Alaskan wild. Although the day’s journey had come to its conclusion, we still had the enough stamina and energy to manage a meal in the Reflections dining room. * * * * Worn from the day’s adventures I wonder into the first inn that we happened upon after walking for what seemed like weeks. Famished and thirsty from the leagues of sunbaked dusty roads and unseasonably warm weather, we took comfort at the first table empty table we set our eyes upon. As we sat I sensed an almost unnatural quiet in the room with all eyes staring at my dirt-worn party. A nervous looking mole that reminded with a face that reminded me of a weasel approached our table with a visible apprehension. When he came to our side, he very quietly mumbled something from his whiskered face. “Speak up man” I bellowed. He then stated, just barely louder than before “The, the, this is the Captain’s table. You cannot sit here.” I then very conspicuously turned my head to look at the table, then about the room, and exclaimed loudly “well I do not see no such captain, nor is their name set upon this table. Now be a good man and fetch us some ale and whatever this place calls a meal.” The patrons of the inn were still watching our table, listening to our exchange, all anticipating the next move of our attendant, who may have even been the proprietor of this road-side establishment. After a moment, the little weasel of a man without looking anyone in the eye, muttered “But, but [undecipherable].” I got up, towering two or three heads upon this little shopkeep and in my coarsest voice bellowed out “I said, fetch us something to eat and drink, and do it with the utmost of haste” and threw a few pieces of silver upon the table. This got the frightened little man to move. He quickly scooped up the coin in his paw-like hands and quickly made his way to the kitchen, but not before telling a barmaid to deliver some drink to my parched host of adventurers. The libations came quickly, although it took a few minutes before our admirers turned their attention away from us and onto their own matters. In the time that followed, a few continued turned a quick eye in our direction from time to time, but that was to be expected. We can’t help it that even after three days on the road without a shower, we were still so attractive to receive such attentions. Bowls of stew appeared in a due time. Of what animal became the meat, I dared not ask, but it did well to fill our empty stomachs. After devouring every last drop of our repast, we each enjoyed another mug of ale or two (or maybe it was a mead, who can remember from so long ago). I also negotiated with the skittish man for a room for the four of us to spend the night. We had spent so many nights out on the road, my back was ready for a bed, or even a pile of straw to soften the unforgivingly cold dirt at the sides of the road. He again seemed hesitant to allow us to lodge, but after a few more pieces of silver made it into his sweaty palm, and he secured us a small room that would hardly accommodate the lot of us. But there were two beds large enough for us to share, and a water well out the back for us to wash; what else can one ask for? My party was discussing our course for the following day when a colorfully clad gentleman along with a duo of oversized goons crashed into the room. I say crashed, since upon looking at us, he blindly walked directly into the barmaid, toppling all of the drinks she was balancing on her way to satisfy the thirsts of her customs. His face grew red as he glared at us and with an unnatural exasperation in his voice shouted . . . . . . To be continued. Maybe. * * * * Based on the above description, some of you might be questioning my memory of the events of that evening. It is possible that things did not exactly occur that way, but that is how I remember it. If you look at the movies being filmed, released, and viewed in droves over the past decade or two, it is apparent that imagination is becoming an archaic notion. As you set off on your own cruise adventure, try to imagine it as being more than just a vacation afloat a travelling hotel. Imagine yourself setting off on a grand adventure for which legendary tales shall be written. It won’t hurt you to do so . . . . as long as you can distinguish between what is fictional and what is reality. As Lee Atwater, the maestro spin-doctor, had famously observed, “perception is reality.” Enough of this foolishness, off to dinner with the lot of ya . . . .

“You can call me anything, so long as you don’t call me late for dinner.” [Unknown; early 19th c.]

“Part of the secret of success is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” [Mark Twain]

6:30 PM to 8 PM La Cena

Glad y'all had a great time!!!!! I did not see the $10 shuttle when we went. Good news for those reading this thread. May I ask, where did you pick up the shuttle and where did you purchase the ticket? Although you missed Tracy Arm, it was a good tradeoff with extra time in Juneau and having longer time in Juneau. Awesome! Glad your sailing had a close view/ Wildlife tours are always hit or miss. Years ago we went on a four hour whale watching tour out of Long Island to only see a single sunfish. How was Dolly's House? There is little one for one person let alone two in those shower stalls (except for those in a suite). But glad you and your arm made it through okay!

A. Colorful Commentary It is a quantifiable fact that travel without children is less expensive when not accompanied by one’s progeny. However, what you receive in return by experiencing the world with the ones you love is a lot more rewarding than its cost in dollars and cents. I must admit, there were the occasional (very, very occasional) opportunities over the past two decades where we were able to steal away for a week, much less a day, especially when our children were younger. The preponderance of our vacations and weekend jaunts into suburbia for the past twenty-two years have occurred with children in tow. Akin to Jefferson Smith’s sentiments, I do not solely journey to a location with the intent of merely arriving. It is the journey and the wonderous sights and experiences along the path for which we thrive. However, even this is but a segment of the overall adventure. The quest for wonders should not come to an end upon arrival – there are a great deal more wonders to see and things to do; therefore do not close your eyes, or worse pass the wonders by without even a notice. As my parents had gifted me, I pay it forward to my children. I have travelled with them on these ventures to expose them to the many wonders of our universe and teach them to not just keep their eyes open, but to actively seek out the wonders, both small and large. Age is of no matter. We had begun exposing our children from their infancy and have continued well into their passage out of adolescence and into adulthood. Nor does the child need to be of flesh or blood – you can disseminate the gift of wonder to the eyes, hearts, and minds of all others; even if that child is an adult friend, loved one, or partner of many decades. I feel very fortunate to have been able to open my child’s eyes to the wonders of nature, civilization, history, and culture both close to home to the many staggering corners of the world. Even when re-visiting an old haunt, try to re-live again for the first time through the fascinated and wide-opened eyes of your children or travelling companions. Also be sure to listen to those you are with, since they may also be able to show you wonders you many have overlooked before. In providing this Alaskan adventure to my family I have gifted them the wonders nature on a grand scale, but also acted as a guide so they can appreciate all the wonders of the little things as well. [Did You Know: James Steward was not originally slated for the title role. The film was originally slated to be a sequel to “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” another Academy Award-winning film by director Frank Capra (“Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington”). However, Gary Cooper (Mr. Deeds) was under contract with another studio, so they needed to find another actor, and Stewart filled the role more than adequately. Jean Arthur, playing the co-star in Mr. Deeds, also co-starred in this movie. While she received an Oscar nod for “More the Merrier,” IMHO, her roles in these movies should have led to at least two additional nominations.] B. This Topic, in Context This subsection was added for two reasons: (1) To describe that time in-between the day’s activities and the time dinner begins (which can be anywhere from 4:30 for Early Dining to 8 PM (or after) for MTD). I our case, most diners were set for 6:45 (MyTime Dining), but left our cabin somewhere after 6:30, and (2) to discuss that in-between age on cruise ships for late teens and young adults. My DD at 17 was too old for most of the teen activities, yet not old enough for consuming alcohol or gambling (on this sailing), while my DD22 is old enough to drink and gamble, but found it difficult to find others her age. C. Nap and Relax Part II Although I enjoy availing myself to relaxation time in the AM (as discussed in a prior post) I do enjoy a little R&R in the evenings prior to our evening meal. Napping - If I returned to my stateroom by 4:30 and partook in a nice shower, on a few occasions I found myself taking a stroll through the land of slumber. [Did you Know: According to the National Sleep Foundation, napping is good for both children and adults.] Watching TV – Although I did not watch the TV very often during the cruise, it was during this in-between time that I may have surfed the channels, including the one rare occurrence where I actually watched most of a movie. [Did you Know: According to a study by the University of California watching TV can reduce the levels of the hormone cortisol in your body, which may help reduce stress. However, beware of too much of a good thing.] Watching Nature from the Balcony – One of my favorite evening activities during the cruise was simply sitting out on the balcony on the lookout for wildlife or just looking out at the beauty of nature. Of course, my trusty set of binoculars were by my side to accentuate my sight, in addition to my camera and cell phone to hopefully capture those truly unforgettable sights. [Did You Know: How fast does nature pass you by while the cruise ship is sailing? According to an article on Cruise Critic, the average speed of a modern cruise ship is about 23 miles per hour, with a maximum speed of around 34.5 mph. And no, I have no idea what the swapping of some of the RCI ships for next year due to speed regulations is all about.] D. Teens/Teenagers and Young Adults For cruisers, there is an in-between demographic that some cruise lines are beginning to pay attention to (besides during the short booze cruise during college breaks), but not every often, and not even on every ship. Young adults over 18 and especially those 21+ exist in an in-between nexus of the cruising universe. At 21 they can at least eat or gamble, but there are not many to find to share these activities. For the 18-21, they are in the age of limbo, although the drinking and gambling age may vary based on a country’s itinerary. There are rarely any activities that focus on these age groups. For my DD17, although still young enough to enter the teen club, she is almost 18 and entering college, which places her mentally and socially over the age restrictions and into the older set – and once again, no activities exist. D1. Young Adults My DD22 assessment of the young adult situation is as follows: there were a few passengers in the early-20 age group, but they were in the minority. These individuals were mostly observed during the cruise partaking in activities with their family unit. She concluded that ship did not really provide a proper venue for them to meet or gather. Single/Solo Events The single/solo events were sparsely attended by her age group or any age group (unless people came much later). Disco She believed that she would most likely meet up with other young adults at the evening disco/dance venue where she would meet up with passengers her age. However, the “disco” did not seem to draw many in that age group – she thinks because of their selection of music. Pop/dance music from at least the early 2000’s and later would have been a draw to young adults her age. Instead, they played much older music from the 50s through the 90s (which would be great for my age group, but not for hers). I get it, the ship is sailing with an older demographic, and the ship wants to cater to their desires, but this venue was not very well attended by any demographic. [Q: When did I become an older demographic?] I might suggest the option of dedicating the first hour (10 to 11 PM) playing music for the older generation, and newer music thereafter (while most of the passengers are tucked away under the blankets.) Hush Party The only venue that was “kinda” attended by young adults was the Hush Party. Casino Bar Although she had passed by the bars and lounges during the evenings on various evenings, she did not see any groups of people her age just hanging out. That is until the very last night of the cruise. While leaving one venue (I do not know which one), she walked through the casino, and in the bar was a group of 20-somethings just hanging out, and not with a bunch of adults. She stated to me that if she was not already so tired that evening she may have gone by to see if she could possibly hang out with them; but her exhaustion won out, and retired to her cabin instead. No, the casino bar was not one of the areas that she would have thought to look for like-compatriots. D2. Older Teens Since my DDs are both 17 or older, I am not going to comment on the going-ons of younger teens or children. I can provide you will my knowledge and experience from earlier cruises, but they are not fresh in my mind. To get the best bang for your buck, I am only commenting on my DD17’s experience. As with all things, her experience may be (is probably) a lot different than other older teenagers. Whereas in the past, except for one cruise where she had cousins and friends to hang out with, she had always attended the Teen Club and would many times rather spend time there than with her family. For our Alaska sailing this was not the case. My DD17 went to the first night at the teen club and not many teens her age showed up. There were a number of younger teens, but she was a 17-year-old going into college in the Fall. It seemed like too young of a vibe for her. A staff member said to come back later, and maybe more teens her age would show up, but she never made it back. Fortunately, she did meet up with two girls her age (18+), and they did hang out a few times during the cruise. Since they were over 18, they did not go to the teen club (they had aged out), so they hung out in various places throughout the ship (e.g., trivia and Name that Tune games, Hush Party, etc.) and had fun. Unlike previous cruises, my DDs did not observe any large mobs of kids roaming around the ship (as on previous cruises) – teens and young adults seemed to be contained in smaller groups with their family (except for the one group that all wore matching pink Hawaiian shirts one night – although they were with their the parents, (unfortunately for my DD17, they were all younger teens)). I observed this group of kids and their parents performed Karaoke together one evening (further hammering in the hypothesis of children on this remaining in groups with their parents). The general observation by both of my DDs is that when they saw kids/adults in either one of their age groups, it was usually with their family units. D3. In Sum . . . although my DDs were not socializing 20 hours a day when not with good ole’ mom and pop, they both have explained that they had an “awesome” vacation. They thoroughly enjoyed the excursions (although would have spent less time at the museums), the views of the glaciers, and the ship itself (the highlights being the Hush Party and Karaoke). My DD17 also enjoyed the freedom of being in a separate cabin and even sharing that cabin with her big sister [a precursor for college in only a few weeks 😊. . . .☹], and they both also enjoyed dressing up for dinner. The lack of social connections was a disappointment for my DD22, although thankfully my DD17 connected with travelers her age to talk to on occasion. The only unanimous aspect of the cruise we all shared was our low opinion of the food. They (and I) had become accustomed to better offerings, and our expectations were not met; this culinary state of affair, however, would not hinder either of them from taking another cruise, especially if mom and dad are taking care of the bill. I am happy that I have been able to share an adventure into the wilds (and not so wilds) of Canada and Alaska with my daughters, who kept their eyes open to look for, and enjoy, the wonders of everything they experienced. I have given them the travel bug, which I hope they retain with them for their lifetimes and be able to share many more wonders with their own loved ones. Up Next . . . . A Call for Dinner

“My Dad had the right idea. He had it all worked out. He used to say to me, ‘Son, don't miss the wonders that surround you; because, every tree, every rock, every ant hill, every star is filled with the wonders of nature.’ ” [Jefferson Smith [James Stewart] “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”]

5 PM to 6:30 PM In-Between

I have a few minutes while I am waiting for some documentation to be sent, so here's my next update, although the pics (and Compass) will have to wait for later this evening or tomorrow . . .

@familycruzinnewbie - I was thinking about you the other day and wondering how your cruise was and how you are feeling. So how was the cruise and is your arm mending okay?

3rd time! Then I do not have to tell you that you will have an amazing time. We did not port at Haines, but I can answer any questions about Sitka. I also have the walking tour documentation downloaded in one of the prior threads in addition to my review of our walk, Please let me know if you have any other questions.