Diamond - Hawaii Jan 6-22, 2023. Semi Live

[cruzin4us]

The Pacific Ocean is a little rough this morning - lots of waves with white caps.  
 

caught a juggling act on the way to the dining room 

menu is in above post. 
 

Lunch - I ordered a weird combo for lunch.     It’s a formal night so I didn’t want to overdo it

 

James Beard French Toast (since I’ve never had it) -  it came nice and hot.  It was a little oily/greasy for me, but I ate it anyway.   Part or my problem is I’m not a breakfast person.   

 

Vitello Tonnato which is veal carpaccio -  well, this definitely wasn’t what I pictured in my head.  Lol.   The veal was covered by a pate looking sauce with a spider web design.   It tasted better than I expected and I ate it all.   Definitely didn’t pair well with French Toast but that’s on me.    The tuna was a bit overpowering and I probably would have made this differently 

 

Left feeling stuffed.  Heading upstairs to get some fresh air if I don’t get blown away by the wind 

 

[cr8tiv1]

Pretty good deductive reasoning skills, but I hope you are wrong.  Can you hold your breath long enough to pass their cabin?  Is their balcony forward of aft of you? Wear your mask when you go out on your balcony.  

 

Enjoy your ride home.  The report is that the Atmospheric River is done with for now.  West Coast should see pleasant and sunny weather tis week.  

[Tiggerontheseas]

On 1/11/2023 at 2:47 PM, cruzin4us said:

Typo - the server called her “mam”

 

Well, how dare that server be polite!   The nerve! 🙂

 

I'm seriously behind, but really enjoying your review.  Bringing back great memories of our Hawaii cruise. 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Tiggerontheseas

[Lmc60193]

Was curious if all the cabin bathrooms have Bidet?  We are on the Japan repositioning cruise Feb 12 and was curious as we are in a regular room

[cruzin4us]

58 minutes ago, Lmc60193 said:

Was curious if all the cabin bathrooms have Bidet?  We are on the Japan repositioning cruise Feb 12 and was curious as we are in a regular room

I know the mini suites do, not sure about others.   Anyone else want to chime in?

[wildflowersnhoney]

Thank you for the great review!  I am feeling hopeful for the hot dishes to be hot, and cold dishes to be served cold on our Sea of Cortez 7 day on January 22-29.   

Loved the pictures

 

Also my first time traveling as Platinum! and we got a min-suite! I feel FANCY. lol 

[arctickitty]

21 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

You will love the location of the Plaza Deck cabins.  They are so convenient to the Piazza public spaces.  Only if they had an International Cafe!  

We’ll be on Crown so we will!

[cr8tiv1]

42 minutes ago, arctickitty said:

We’ll be on Crown so we will!

and the Crown has an IC feet away from your cabin!

[cruzin4us]

So, I knew there were 3 kids in the room next to me, but I didn’t realize there was 4.  Holy Guacamole what were their parents thinking?   All under age 6.     No judgement on bringing their kids but 6 people in one room.  Poor room steward.  
 

Formal Night Dinner.  Most are dressed in the formal side and many are dressed smart casual (me).    The weather isn’t as nice as last night and there were no whales dancing for us.  Bummer, cuz last night was magical.  
 

The menu looks good tonight, it was tough narrowing it down.  Obviously, I didn’t narrow it down too well…..sigh

 

Air Cured prosciutto -  This was a keeper - nice portion of prosciutto.  Kind of an egg soufflé (similar to the goat cheese soufflé but different)  on top which was quite tasty and worked well with the prosciutto - yum

 

Cajun-Style Crawfish Vol-Au-Vent -  it wasn’t the prettiest dish but it was rich and quite good.  The cream sauce, the crayfish and the puff pastry worked well. Ate it all except the shell of the crayfish.   Came on a super hot plate.  This was one dish that would not have tasted good it was cold.   Another good one!

 

Gnocchi del Patate con Crema di Funghi -        Very rich and quite mushroom tasting (thus the word funghi).   Definitely didn’t need to order this cuz I’m already getting full.  It was good, not awesome but good.   Could not finish it, I was running out of room (thank God for stretch pants)

 

service got extremely slow between the pasta and the mai course (painfully slow).  I’m not used to this in the MDR.   The dining room is packed which I’m sure had something to do with it unless they are trying to catch lobsters off the back of the ship.    They better hurry my belly is already full and I’m starting to yawn.    Ok, food just got here!

 

Lobster Tail (a La carte) -  1000% times better than what I experienced on the Ruby.   It was succulent and perfectly cooked.   No drawn butter was offered, but it looks and tasted like it was added before serving.   I didn’t ask for any, it was great.   I didn’t care for the crab cake.   

 

Chateaubriand of Beef Tenderloin - cooked just the way I like it.  It was super tender and flavorful.  Could have arrived a little hotter but I run the risk of it not being hot if I order this rare.   Didn’t care for their Bernaise sauce, tasted odd to me.   The meat didn’t need it anyway.  Veggies were Al dente and tasty.  

 

Pineapple Flambé - just as good as it was a few nights ago. - no picture tonight 
 

It’s funny the things you hear when Dining.  I overhead (not eavesdropping) a couple talking about wanting to read more scriptures while in the bath…..what?  My ears perked up.   Did I just hear that right????  Yup, they also don’t want to read anymore books with “swear or smutty” words.   Only in the dining room…..I was thinking they probably wouldn’t want know I read smutty books in the bathtub.   (Just checking to see if you are all reading this or just browsing food porn) True Story 

 

Food was all rich and very, very good tonight.  They had to get a wheelbarrow to wheel me out.  I’m sooooo full.   

Edited January 17, 2023 by cruzin4us

[cruzin4us]

High tailed it out of dinner when a lady started coughing uncontrollably and blowing her nose.   Maybe I’m paranoid but didn’t want to risk it.   Now to figure out what to do next.  Decisions decisions 

[cruzin4us]

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Pretty good deductive reasoning skills, but I hope you are wrong.  Can you hold your breath long enough to pass their cabin?  Is their balcony forward of aft of you? Wear your mask when you go out on your balcony.  

 

Enjoy your ride home.  The report is that the Atmospheric River is done with for now.  West Coast should see pleasant and sunny weather tis week.  

Nah, wish I was wrong but medical has been there a couple of times today.  It’s too cold to use my balcony right now.  I’m also more forward than them so it blows the air away from my balcony.   
 

[cruzin4us]

This morning I woke up and grabbed the patter to figure out what I wanted to do today.  I know I’m supposed to help Brian and Rowena ant some point with their clothing sale…..There is a lot going on according to the Patter.   So much, the print was so small my old eyes couldn’t read the small print.  Had to use the magnifying app on my phone to read it.   Ha, the joys of getting old.    
 

Jumped in the shower, no, let me rephrase that.  There is no jumping in or out of the showers.  They are a royal pain to get into with these elevated bathtubs.   I don’t know how some people are managing it.   Either they aren’t showering or they are taking one in the gym.   I know many elderly people wouldn’t manage.  Again, I’m 5’11” so I have an advantage.  Seriously, you may want to consider this if you book a mini suite.  
 

My back is starting it itch where I got sunburned.   You Know, the spot right between your shoulder blades and right about your bra line….the one you can’t reach no matter how limber or young you are.  I just wanted to rub some lotion on that spot.   I contorted, with lotion in hand….no can do.  All I managed to do was drip lotion on the bathroom floor.  Gave up on the idea and just got dressed.  Maybe bringing my husband with me might have been a good idea after all 😁

 

more later…

[cruzin4us]

The patter today

[arizonaperson]

Cruzin4 us- love Reading your live from.

Wow what type of cabin is next-door to you that has four kids under age 6 and two other people? I didn’t know any rooms held six people. Perhaps they have two rooms, but they hang out in the one next to you? 

[Cruisin Camper]

Was curious if this ship has a White and Gold party?  I bought a lovely white and gold long dress today and hoping to wear it.

[PescadoAmarillo]

47 minutes ago, arizonaperson said:

Cruzin4 us- love Reading your live from.

Wow what type of cabin is next-door to you that has four kids under age 6 and two other people? I didn’t know any rooms held six people. Perhaps they have two rooms, but they hang out in the one next to you? 

Since the OP is so far forward, could it be a Family Suite?  They are actually a mini suite connected with an inside cabin and can hold up to 8 people. 

[cruzin4us]

Pub Lunch today so of course I had to go.    
 

English Green Pea Soup -  Wow, that’s some mighty green soup was my first thought.  My soup is always dark greenish brown.   It tasted great and it was hot and satisfying.   Everyone else must think so too because it seems everyone ordered it.  Good choice and it hit the spot.  Definitely comfort food.  

 

Penne all Arrabbiata -  spicy and delicious.  The chef knows how to cop with spices.  Enjoyed this dish a lot.  

 

Bangers & Mash -  Everything I could have hoped for and more!  Arrived hot and it tasted terrific.  

 

Apple and Apricot Cobbler -  it was small thank God and served warm.  Delicious 

 

this was a fun lunch and everything I ordered was extremely good.  No complaints whatsoever.    Going to go outside and find a lounge chair and maybe fall asleep if it’s warm 

[cruzin4us]

2 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Cruzin4 us- love Reading your live from.

Wow what type of cabin is next-door to you that has four kids under age 6 and two other people? I didn’t know any rooms held six people. Perhaps they have two rooms, but they hang out in the one next to you? 

It would be a mini suite.  There is a good chance they also got the inside cabin across the hall.  Don’t know the exact dynamics but I see and hear them them leave the one room together all the time.  

[cruzin4us]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Since the OP is so far forward, could it be a Family Suite?  They are actually a mini suite connected with an inside cabin and can hold up to 8 people. 

Ah, maybe this is how they do it.  They are in the mini suite as far forward as they can get.   I haven’t checked the deck plan but what you say makes sense

[cruzin4us]

Well, I helped Brian and Rowena with their clothing sale and that was a lot of fun.   Then we toted all the stuff back to my room since they are using it to store some of their stuff.   
 

Rowena demonstrated different ways to tie a sarong which was helpful.   
 

If you ever have a chance to do a cruise with them, you will find them to be the most approachable people and genuinely nice and fun.    They truly like being ambassadors and it shows in everything they do.  
 

It’s a lazy day around the ship even though there are a zillion things listed on the patter to keep you occupied.  
 

I think I’m going to go grab a free Sudoku sheet from down in the library and see if I have any brain cells in this head of mine.  

[cruzin4us]

Re: the 6 people in a cabin.  They have 2 adjoining cabins.  I thought I was 2nd from the end (forward) but actually there are 2 beyond me.  Those 2 rooms are connecting and the kids must be staying in the cabin closest to me from what I’m gathering/hearing and the adults are staying in the cabin next to them. They have connecting rooms so in theory there are only 3 people in each room (according to the names on the screen outside their doors.   That’s why I see them all leave the same room.  Ok, mystery solved.  
 

 

 

[cruzin4us]

Free laundry service (elite benefit).  The turn around time has been 24 hours.  I usually send out a few items everyday.   Haven’t had any issues with shrinkage, etc.  

 

As you can imagine, I’m still stuffed from lunch so my dinner is going to be on the lighter side tonight.   At least I tried to make some lighter choices.    
 

Rolls are offered at every meal and Princess makes a good dinner roll.   Be careful, they are really addictive.   
 

It was a nice day and the seas were much smoother today.  
 

Dinner:  

 

Chinese Pork Dumplings - These are what I call “Potstickers”.  They were good, could have been a tad bit warmer but they were good.  They were soft, not crispy if that matters to you (more like a won ton).  

 

Crunchy Asian Chopped Salad - yes, I know you don’t think I eat salads.   You probably think, man that girl needs to eat some veggies!   Truthfully, I usually eat very little meat so I’ve beeline a kid in candy shop.  This salad had an Asian flavor.  Not sure what the crunchy part is in the title.  I was kind of expecting won tons?  I guess it the microscopic pieces of peanuts we’re supposed to be crunchy 😁. There was edamame and ginger.  The ginger added a nice flavor.  It was nice and refreshing.  

 

Breaded Lemon Sole Colbert, Tarragon Sauce -  Wow, this came out piping hot.   I looked at the full plate and thought “I was ordering light”.   Oh my Lordy, that’s a lot of food”.   Probably should have looked at the first word and then I would have realized it was breaded, duh.      It was ok but there was no way I was going to down all that food.  Argh.   Dole is such a delicate fish, and it tasted like the oil it was fried in.   It wasn’t my favorite.   I picked my way through the meal, eating all the vegetables.  No dessert for me.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by cruzin4us

[arizonaperson]

Cruzin4 us- love your thread. Appreciate all your thoughts and your “ blog” ,it’s very good.Keep posting.

[wynkys]

What a refreshing approach you have to it all!

Keep enjoying.

 

[CruisingGrandmaW]

@Cruizin4us  Love your humor-style of writing.  So entertaining to read your various experiences.

 

Re:  Passenger rude to Crew Staff.    Want to share a "story" of my own. 

Was at second Set Sitting Time in MDR.

An elderly widow at our table was very demanding & hyper-critical over the food. 

Meat was not cooked to her liking and waiter forgot to put a couple extra pieces of Veggies on her plate.  When the waiter came to the table next to us to take their order ........ this elderly lady picked up her dinner plate and threw it across our table at the waiter -- all while yelling to him about her lousy food & his poor service.

Well the problem in her doing that - is the food from her plate landed on me and soiled my clothes and of course all over the tablecloth making an ugly mess for all of us dining at the table to look at.

 

Waiter was great - he reported incident to MDR Manager.  They re-assigned our table for remainder of cruise & gave me Free Dry Cleaning for my dress that had gotten soiled.

 

PEOPLE - Oh God - Please don't let me turn into an Old Bitty as I age!!!