John&LaLa Live B2B from Symphony 10/26 and 11/2, Great Expectations 🎂

[John&LaLa]

43 minutes ago, Buccaneergirl said:

Not quoting pics.....

 

yes, Bellla is not a Seahawks fan.😆

She is a beautiful dog!

 

I have so enjoyed this thread and thank you so much for doing it!

 

We will be on Mariner for the Super Bowl, will you be sailing with us?

 

 

I believe we are on Jan 20, and thats a Monday, so no. 

[John&LaLa]

In line 40 minutes early for the Gala Buffet.  

I had forgotten about the line. Back in the day they opened the line at 11:30 for pictures. 2nd line at midnight for actually eating. 

[John&LaLa]

Buffet was most definitely executed as a WCCF.

 

Chocolate macarons were by far the best thing available. BTW, it was desserts only

 

I'll post more pics soon, but this is what I grabbed.

 

[Coralc]

Oooh Pretty! That looks like extreme chocolate overload! Too bad it wasn't well organized.   I guess since they haven't had one for such a long time. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by Coralc

[John&LaLa]

This is how i recall what happened at the buffet 

 

It was supposed to begin at 11:30

No mention of photo op vs actually eating it

It was desserts only, and just on one side

They opened the doors at 11:05

The wash stations slowed entry a little, that was good.👍

However the orderly line fell apart when the first puctures were taken and those behind leapfrogged in front. 

They used those poles with retractable line to keep folks away from the food.

The idea was to do a clockwise line around the 3 stations.

Once you saw it, you were to grab a seat if you wanted to eat. Bad idea.

I sat near the corporate F&B manager. They were discussing something, and in the midst of picture taking, they opened the lines to eat it.

This was about 11:30

I thought they said something like "To your stations" but it didn't happen. 

Management was notoriously missing after that

Luckily there wasnt a riot because folks were getting pissed that they missed pictures. 

Overall it was peaceful chaos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was all over the top

 

 

 

[Coralc]

How Beautiful! It is kind of like the Willy Wonka factory. I love chocolate. 

[John&LaLa]

Huh, I had descriptions on around 20% of the photos,  not sure what happened.  Maybe because I added them as an edit. 

 

I also regret using so many pics in the post. 

 

Sorry, it just seemed the most efficient way to get them in via a phone

Edited November 7, 2019 by John&LaLa

[bobmacliberty]

What's the over/under on the number of people who quote your entire post to say how beautiful it looks?  BTW...it looks beautiful.

 

[crewsweeper]

Wonder if anyone slept last night after all that sugar rush?  Looks delish.

 

They serving leftovers today?  Or were there any leftovers?

[Pratique]

Nothing you described surprises me. There were just too many people there all at once. On the Symphony TA they had a special dessert celebration event in the WJ but the servers came around to the tables with the food instead of self-serve. That seemed to work well but there were fewer selections than you had.

[Biker19]

48 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

I also regret using so many pics in the post. 

We all will when someone quotes it.

[Milwaukee Eight]

I wonder who will be the first to photo quote  post # 881??? 😱

 

BTW, nice pictures @John&LaLa

 

In my opinion 

Edited November 7, 2019 by Milwaukee Eight

[Ocean Boy]

5 minutes ago, Pratique said:

Nothing you described surprises me. There were just too many people there all at once. On the Symphony TA they had a special dessert celebration event in the WJ but the servers came around to the tables with the food instead of self-serve. That seemed to work well but there were fewer selections than you had.

They had a Windjammer dessert night on Adventure too. It was set up in a continuous line and no matter where along the line the items were located that you might have wanted you had to start at the beginning of the line. It was a totally frustrating screw up with very long lines and waiting forever to get what you wanted. Seconds were out of the question.

[lisa6191]

It was a lot of pics but they were all so beautiful! I especially loved all the whole, beautifully decorated cakes on the buffet with a cake knife in front for self service....I'm sure that went well. 😂

[Pratique]

4 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

They had a Windjammer dessert night on Adventure too. It was set up in a continuous line and no matter where along the line the items were located that you might have wanted you had to start at the beginning of the line. It was a totally frustrating screw up with very long lines and waiting forever to get what you wanted. Seconds were out of the question.

The way to do it is to circulate the servers around the tables with trays of food and then put the leftovers on the buffet for people to grab seconds. BTW people are less likely to hoard food this way because they are already stuffing their faces when more comes along.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Pratique

[island lady]

Wow!  Unreal how many really talented artists are on board to do that with the food.  Just beautiful. 🤗 Thanks for so many detailed pictures.  🙂 

[xpcdoojk]

Have to say those are the only food photos that I actually found to be attractive.

 

I so wanted to quote it.

 

jc

[3eaglesfam]

After looking at the dessert pictures I have developed diabetes....

Loved the hammering coins pics.  My family owns a blacksmithing and metalworking tools business.  I know they have glass blowing on some Celebrity ships.  Wonder when a forge will get added to a Royal ship?  

[Sea Dog]

Love all the pics! Truly amazing how talented the chefs are. As a chocolate addict myself, I would be in heaven eating some of the great desserts.

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, Pratique said:

The way to do it is to circulate the servers around the tables with trays of food and then put the leftovers on the buffet for people to grab seconds. BTW people are less likely to hoard food this way because they are already stuffing their faces when more comes along.

 

The tiny plates were a godsend.

[cruisegirl1]

Photos look lovely, especially the candy, chocolate, ice, fruit and vegetable sculptures.  The decorations on the cake were very pretty.

 

Of course most of the desert gala’s have not been this extravagant, but unfortunately I rarely find anything that tastes very good. The cakes are all beautiful but often look much better than they taste.  (Maybe my taste buds are changing)
 

I hope the event was open to the entire ship. Was it ? hope you enjoyed. 
m
 

 

[Domino D]

10 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

It was desserts only, and just on one side

 

They used those poles with retractable line to keep folks away from the food.

 

Once you saw it, you were to grab a seat if you wanted to eat. Bad idea.

 

I thought they said something like "To your stations" but it didn't happen. 

All buffets should be dessert only, even breakfast.  I stand by this.

When you first mentioned "they used poles", I was envisioning them poking at people (like spears) to keep them at bay.

"Grab a seat if you want to eat" sounds like a Golden Corral slogan, and'or musical chairs

Did they say "Man your forks"?

[Pratique]

8 minutes ago, Domino D said:

When you first mentioned "they used poles", I was envisioning them poking at people (like spears) to keep them at bay.

I thought that too but didn't want to be the first to admit it.

[torpeedo]

Great photos of the dessert extravaganza!!  I think I gained 10 pounds just looking at the pictures!!!

[Domino D]

Great pictures by the way