“LIVE” from Apex, December 2nd-First Celeb to the Carib Sailing!

[depplep]

You don't get a deck chair with the cabana do you? I want full sun all day and the hubby doesn't. 🙁 Thank you for posting the cabana menu also.

Edited December 6, 2023 by depplep
Addition

[niksmom630]

4 hours ago, depplep said:

You don't get a deck chair with the cabana do you? I want full sun all day and the hubby doesn't. 🙁 Thank you for posting the cabana menu also.

No deck chair in the cabana. Just sectional sofas…. But there are plenty of them literally right behind the cabanas 

 

[niksmom630]

Got ourselves a rainbow ☺️

 

 

 

Evening stroll ….. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

33 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

Got ourselves a rainbow ☺️

 

 

 

Evening stroll ….. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is this  new merchandise?

on BEYOND they had recycled handbags and clothes ..billed as high end, it still had a flea market feel and was very cluttered!  This looks more orderly..  I do not buy used!

 

Love the rainbow!

Edited December 7, 2023 by hcat

[niksmom630]

Morning views from Deck 5, outside Eden 

 

 

 

it is a smoking area, should you wish to avoid. But I am the only one here now 👍

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Ship photos coming up….in no particular order….

 

dining….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

 

 

 

seating outside Cafe Bacio

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Menus…

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Future cruise, photo gallery and internet “cafe”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Texed]

Beautiful pictures.  😊

[niksmom630]

Decided to switch it up today and try the Eden Cafe for a light breakfast. It’s definately more zen and peaceful than the Oceanview in the morning. 
 

seating/swinging 😂 in the back of Eden

 

 

outdoor seating by the cafe, that you need to access from the cafe

 

 

Eden also has lots of seating indoors with wake views…

 

 

 

a view of all three levels 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

 

the hours are limited here, so if you really are interested in trying it out, I’d check hours in the app…. 
 

 

 

[niksmom630]

You get a “beeper” for the sandwiches. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

signature cinnamon roll (not pictured) was dry and cold. The Bacon Egg cheese sandwich had raw pieces of bacon in it. 🤢🤮 

 

I opted for the “steak” sandwich (pictured). Just way too much “bread” for my liking. 
 

positives… the sandwich was hot….👍

[niksmom630]

Coming into Puerto Plata…parking next to our cousin today 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Odyssey is a great ship…. Sailed Nov 2021 to celebrate my “official”  retirement. Took a ride on the Northstar at night. Not to be missed if you get a chance to sail on her. We will be on Ovation to Alaska next June. Looking forward to the Alaska views from the Northstar 😎🥰🥰

 

had to relocate my spot in the Solarium 😮 

 

 

[niksmom630]

 

No fishbowl views on this side

 

 

[CruiseLifeIsTheBest]

7 hours ago, schooner_Drinker said:

Enjoy Taino bay - One of our favorite new places to dock

Remember head left keep going and find that hidden gem 

 

Nancy 

Do share 😎

[niksmom630]

A bit behind on photos and day 5/6 thoughts coming up….

 

looks like a beautiful start to Day 7, and gaining an hour this morning due to the time change was a bonus! 🤩🥳 

 

 

last nights dinner was La Petite Chef. I had done this experience on the Infinity during my Portugal  and Spain sailing earlier this year, but none of the others in our group had, and I enjoyed it enough to do it a second time. 
 

the animation is really fun and the meal was actually good too, although, again… real lack of creativity with the dessert options. But I’ve beat that horse to death here, so I’ll move on. 😜 

 

there are two menu options, the menu “extraordinare” follows the animation while the “other” menu just offers some alternates and the meal preparation animation  on the plate won’t match what you’re eating, but it’s still entertaining…..

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

I decided to be slightly adventurous (for me) and stick with the “extraordinaire” menu, although the bouillabaisse was really out of my comfort zone 🤢

 

 

here the wee chef is capturing the soup ingredients…note petite net to the left of the plate 

 

 

and here is the finished product.

 

i ate one of the shrimp, and then upon stirring for a second bite something rose to the surface that looked a lot like 👀 eyeballs…. Whelp, I was done 🤢

 

 

Next up was the filet…. wee chef grilling…

 

 

 

And the finished product….. Very good 👍 

 

[niksmom630]

Next up was the dessert…. Could not do the rice pudding, so opted for the ice cream sundae 

 

Pudding preparation….

 

 

and, the dessert “prepared” 

 

 

my alternate 

 

[niksmom630]

More random photos… 

 

odyssey peeps peeping us from the North Star

 

 

More ship art….

 

 

 

Grand Bistro menu…. Lunch only, $30 

 

[niksmom630]

Yesterday was all about a little self care and a port spa special… thanks @schooner_Drinker Nancy for the tip in Puerto Plata, thankfully we will be stopping here in February of 2025 and I’ll have another chance to explore. Our friends got off and really liked this port stop. 
 

Fitness center… lots of torture machines 

 

 

 

the Spa

 

 

 

as close I got to the Retreat. I plan to remedy this in 2025 😉😎

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 5/6 observations….

 

- this ship is doing a lot of rocking and rolling. I even had to leave the Oceanview yesterday morning because I was feeling a tad unwell….
 

captain even commented on it during his morning announcement. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a ship this size in the Caribbean. Maybe I’m out of practice 🫠

 

- Sorrentos pizza (Royal) is far better. Never thought I’d say that about Sorrentos 👍 born

and raised in Chicago, I’ve had my share of good and bad pizza 🍕 

 

- I like the “real” ice cream options in Oceanview. There’s also gelato, but that has an up charge. If your tastes lend to soft serve fro-yo, you can get that at the Mast Grill. So far I’ve only seen strawberry and chocolate. 

 

- there’s a sign posted in the solarium about family hours observed between 4-7 pm. Have only seen a total of 4 children on this sailing since we boarded though. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

 

 

 

 

[tfred]

2 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Yesterday was all about a little self care and a port spa special… thanks @schooner_Drinker Nancy for the tip in Puerto Plata, thankfully we will be stopping here in February of 2025 and I’ll have another chance to explore. Our friends got off and really liked this port stop. 
 

Fitness center… lots of torture machines 

 

 

 

the Spa

 

 

 

as close I got to the Retreat. I plan to remedy this in 2025 😉😎

 

 

 

you should look at Luminae menu before you book Retreat. It is somewhat adventuresome   You can choose the everyday classics, but the other selections are made with a twist. Some people complain "Nothing to eat!" but they are selective eaters