Is Anyone Else Like Me?

[clo]

11 hours ago, Terry Bill said:

Obviously, my wife doesn't cook and wash on the voyage - what sort of throwback to the 1950s do you think I am?  No, she enjoys a break too.

So YOU don't "cook and wash" at home?????

[clo]

5 hours ago, ldubs said:

fancy fine dining.

It doesn't have to be "fancy" to be "fine." At all.

[clo]

On 3/17/2024 at 12:20 AM, Kristelle said:

Of course if you go on organised land tours you don't have to organise your own meals either. 

Oh we do quite regularly. Over a number of trips I've found group meals to be LCD - lowest common denominators, i.e., feed the masses. Whenever we can we break away from the group and do our own thing for meals. I do the research first so can find something better than average in almost any town.

[clo]

On 3/17/2024 at 4:42 AM, ontheweb said:

And if you do not eat meat, planning meals out becomes much harder.

I DO eat meat but I find the better the restaurant the more likely to have way better than average non-meat dishes.

[clo]

On 3/17/2024 at 4:44 AM, ontheweb said:

I disagree. We have been on organized land tours where a few dinners, but far from all of them are planned.

And from our experiences, those that were were nothing to write home about. 'Course in fairness it's hard to feed 20+ people all at once and generally no menu for that many.

[Terry Bill]

12 minutes ago, clo said:

So YOU don't "cook and wash" at home?????

 

Hell no.  I pay for the cruises.  So you know.  Equal but different.

[clo]

3 minutes ago, Terry Bill said:

 

Hell no.  I pay for the cruises.  So you know.  Equal but different.

Probably a good thing that she doesn't charge you by the hour. LOL

[clo]

14 hours ago, DarrenM said:

That's just extreme gluttony to me.

 

Operative words "to me" ? I can eat three meals a day and not overeat. Quality over quantity.  At home if we buy an 8oz steak that's two meals for the two of us. One a ship, it's the same. We share pretty much all the food. That way we can have more things, not more OF the things.

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, Terry Bill said:

 

The capital city of Peru?  Just a guess.

No, they are pronounced much differently. Plus one is capitalized and one is not.

[clo]

9 hours ago, ontheweb said:

My most memorable food on a ship was the last dessert on our cruise

I only remember having one dessert on probably any cruise and that was the creme brulee at Jacques one of the specialty restaurants on Oceania.

 

 

[clo]

9 hours ago, ontheweb said:

My most memorable food on a ship was the last dessert on our cruise

I only remember having one dessert on probably any cruise and that was the creme brulee at Jacques one of the specialty restaurants on Oceania.

 

 

Edited March 19 by clo
site was down

[ontheweb]

47 minutes ago, clo said:

I DO eat meat but I find the better the restaurant the more likely to have way better than average non-meat dishes.

And sometimes there is a failure to communicate. For one of our non-provided escorted tour dinners, we found a restaurant with pictures outside. One was an eggplant dish. We both like eggplant, DW even more than me. We asked is it stuffed with meat, and were told no, Then we ordered it, and they had no idea what we were ordering. 🤣 So we went outside and pointed to the picture. And now they knew what we were ordering. But it came stuffed with MEAT. 🤦‍♂️ We did our best and ate just the eggplant part.

 

And I do realize a foodie would never eat at a restaurant with pictures outside, but our research is geared to things like museums, not restaurants.

[clo]

7 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

And I do realize a foodie would never eat at a restaurant with pictures outside, but our research is geared to things like museums, not restaurants.

And I TOTALLY get it.

[Kristelle]

1 hour ago, clo said:

Oh we do quite regularly. Over a number of trips I've found group meals to be LCD - lowest common denominators, i.e., feed the masses. Whenever we can we break away from the group and do our own thing for meals. I do the research first so can find something better than average in almost any town.

 

Ive been quite happy with the meals on group tours Ive been on -  I guess this isnt an issue for everyone.

Certainly hasn't been for me.

[clo]

3 minutes ago, Kristelle said:

 

Ive been quite happy with the meals on group tours Ive been on -  I guess this isnt an issue for everyone.

Certainly hasn't been for me.

We've only been on Gate 1 and from what I'm reading here there are better choices from a food standpoint. Thanks.

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, clo said:

It doesn't have to be "fancy" to be "fine." At all.

 

I guess not but most would use the two terms to mean the same thing, like more formal atmosphere, superior service, quality food.   I simply enjoy food that is fresh and well prepared (I know, repeating myself).   I have to admit, I don't have a "fancy" for the exotic things you have tried.  Haha.   

[clo]

2 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

I guess not but most would use the two terms to mean the same thing, like more formal atmosphere, superior service, quality food.   I simply enjoy food that is fresh and well prepared (I know, repeating myself).   I have to admit, I don't have a "fancy" for the exotic things you have tried.  Haha.   

How about "fine ribs"?

[Kristelle]

Ive been on Trafalgar in UK/Ireland and also Wendy Wu - WW are Asian specialists, Ive been to Vietnam and China with them and planning to go to Sri Lanka next.

 

I wouldnt try venturing out for my own meals in a country  I dont speak the language and most people there dont speak fluent, or any,  english

 

some folk braver than me might do so - although of course when meals are provided in the cost you tend to eat them.

I guess such tours wouldnt suit adventurous foodie people.

To each his own.

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

It's in the tone. And agree there are some on each side.

 

Had not noticed any tone from those who say they like or miss more basic foods. 

[ldubs]

12 minutes ago, clo said:

How about "fine ribs"?

 

 

Haha, I don't know.   Is "fine ribs" some kind of specific food or just good ribs?    I like ribs, especially BBQ'd ones.

[clo]

1 hour ago, Kristelle said:

I wouldnt try venturing out for my own meals in a country  I dont speak the language and most people there dont speak fluent, or any,  english

 

We were in Hue, Vietnam, and Bourdain had talked about a place that had the best soup in the world, Bun Bo Hue. I was able to track it down, broke away from the group one morning, got there at 8AM when they opened. (When they run out of meat she's done for the day.) Only locals. IIRC two bowls of soup and a bottle of water was about $4!
 

[dmwnc1959]

On 3/9/2024 at 9:44 AM, Poly1979 said:

I don't cruise for the food, drink, entertainment, pools or activities.

 

I cruise strictly for the destinations. The ship is just transportation.

For the most part, and for the past couple of decades, it’s been ship-specific cruises even as far back as Celebrity Mercury, Celebrity Millennium, Royal Princess, Allure of the Seas, Ruby Princess, etc., etc. The next one is more destination-specific, and even more specific to the Old Locks of the Panama Canal. But the ship definitely matters. To me at least. 
 

The reason I don’t cruise specifically for the destination is what happens if I get there and it’s pouring down rain all week. I at least want to be on a very comfortable ship that has a lot of interior amenities and creature comforts to choose from.
 

I’ve been very fortunate to have served in the US Navy and got to see a LOT of places for free - from Europe to the South America, Asia and Africa and a lot of places in between.

 

Now I travel for the sea and what’s beneath my feet. 
 

😁

 

[Kristelle]

That looks really nice.

ETA - the soup photo. 

 

Only thing we had to pay for on WW was drinks and they were VERY reasonably priced. 

You could even not  do that if you wished, as water jugs and pots of tea were supplied at all meals. 

Edited March 20 by Kristelle

[clo]

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

 

Haha, I don't know.   Is "fine ribs" some kind of specific food or just good ribs?    I like ribs, especially BBQ'd ones.

Here ya go - fine ribs 🙂 So, so fine 🙂 And done in the oven!

 

[Hlitner]

4 hours ago, Kristelle said:

 

.................

I wouldnt try venturing out for my own meals in a country  I dont speak the language and most people there dont speak fluent, or any,  english

 

some folk braver than me might do so - although of course when meals are provided in the cost you tend to eat them.

I guess such tours wouldnt suit adventurous foodie people.

To each his own.

My goodness, so much of our independent land trips are in countries where we do not speak the native language.  So what?  Even when you don't speak a language, intelligent folks can manage to communicate.  I cannot imagine dining out with a group tour in places like Paris (or just about anywhere in France), Rome, Japan, etc.  Food can be its own language.  When we rented an apartment in Paris (2 weeks) in St Germain des Pres, we would go out exploring various neighborhood restaurants.  We stumbled on a tiny place where only the owner spoke a teeny bit of English.  Our dinner was excellent, so we returned a few days later for another decent meal.  When we returned a third time. the owner greeted us with hugs and the food was even better. 

 

When we rented an apartment in St Remy de Provence (2 weeks) I would walk a few blocks to the boulangerie to buy fresh croissants and some pastries.  The lady owner would look at me with disdain, was not friendly, but her croissants were terrific.  The first day of our 2nd week I walked in the shop and she greeted me with a big smile, and some nice words.  I was shocked but also delighted.  As I left the shop another local, who spoke English, and I shared some words.  He then explained to me that "she ignored tourists for their first week."  But if you stay longer, you are considered family.  Go figure.  These are the kind of adventures that are the reward for independent travel.

 

When you dine on a cruise ship and order coq au vin you are ordering a French dish.  You can go into a restaurant in France and order coq au vin, sole manière,  bouillabaisse, soupe de Poisson, etc.  In Italy, while you may not speak the language, pizza is pizza!  Go to Rome and order cacio de pepe.  A simple dish (which is on the menu at many Italian restaurants at home) which is amazing when prepared by a Roman chef.  You do not need to speak Italian to order that kind of thing.

 

Some friends have asked us how we deal with the "language barrier" and we usually smile and tell them the worst language barrier was in London (true).  Folks that own/operate decent restaurants will often find joy in watching others enjoy their cuisine.  A smile breaks down most barriers.  About 2/3 of the world's countries do not have English as a major language.  

 

Hank