🐾🐾 Sea Dog is Live! Tiki, Tacos and Tequila: Navigator, October 18-25

[Sea Dog]

18 minutes ago, Keksie said:

@Sea Dog We like the Windjammer for all our breakfasts except the last morning when we have the Key breakfast.  We are early morning people so it usually isnt crowded.  There is a good selection of foods that we both like. 

 

We like it for lunch or the solarium Bistro.  

I need to try the Solarium Bistro.

[DaKahuna]

I heard a rumor that Royal is thinking of allowing smoking in the casino.  Any evidence of that on your cruise? 

 

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

I heard a rumor that Royal is thinking of allowing smoking in the casino.  Any evidence of that on your cruise? 

 

Haven’t been in the casino at all but passed through one morning and smaller and saw someone smoking at a slot machine.

[Sea Dog]

Cankle Report!

 

Day 5 and all is still good.

 

 

[Sea Dog]

Video of our Cabo Excursion

 

 

 

[Ocean Boy]

34 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Honey, I Shrunk the Food!

 

 

 

I am pretty sure they also shrunk their drink glasses a few years ago. The old hurricane glasses that I have from years ago look much bigger to me.

 

That Saturn's Landing drink looks good. Unfortunately, I don't really care for the taste of ginger.

[Ocean Boy]

14 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I need to try the Solarium Bistro.

It used to have really healthy choices but has turned into a scaled down Windjammer. However, I really enjoy the atmosphere and usually take the food out to my seat in the Solarium. I wish the venue existed on Voyager and Freedom class ships.

[Ken at the beach]

22 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

I heard a rumor that Royal is thinking of allowing smoking in the casino.  Any evidence of that on your cruise? 

 

Other than Australia Royal has always allowed smoking in the Casino.  They do have a non smoking section but thats like swimming in the non peeing side of the pool.

[Sea Dog]

12 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I am pretty sure they also shrunk their drink glasses a few years ago. The old hurricane glasses that I have from years ago look much bigger to me.

 

That Saturn's Landing drink looks good. Unfortunately, I don't really care for the taste of ginger.

 

Very true on the glasses. My Old Fashioned’s seem like a smaller cocktail. I am definitely not getting drunk on this cruise.

 

The ginger was slight in taste and did not over power it. You might end up liking it.

 

 

9 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

It used to have really healthy choices but has turned into a scaled down Windjammer. However, I really enjoy the atmosphere and usually take the food out to my seat in the Solarium. I wish the venue existed on Voyager and Freedom class ships.

Totally agree OB!

[fla33023]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Instead of using simple syrup, or doing it classic by muddling a sugar cube and Angostura bitters he actually muddles an orange and cherry together with a little bit of bourbon. What a novel and great idea. Let the fruit carry the sweetness with a hint of the bourbon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's interesting. My husband drinks those when we cruise and he ordered one in Boleros and they muddled the fruit. He had never had it that way before and loved it. If he gets one anywhere else, he'll ask them to muddle. 

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, fla33023 said:

That's interesting. My husband drinks those when we cruise and he ordered one in Boleros and they muddled the fruit. He had never had it that way before and loved it. If he gets one anywhere else, he'll ask them to muddle. 

My past couple of cruises on Odyssey I became quite impressed with Balero's drinks. I had not previously frequented the venue much.

[Sea Dog]

Day 5 Sail Into Puerto Vallarta
 

https://youtu.be/IK3IgN0lQ9I?si=dvPCxfAtzDFm3M1k

[Sea Dog]

Cool seeing the wing station as we dock.

 

 

 

[Sea Dog]

41 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

My past couple of cruises on Odyssey I became quite impressed with Balero's drinks. I had not previously frequented the venue much.

You need to order a Caipirinha. It’s @Momof3gurlz favorite.

[mil76]

The flow widow has been complaining about the smoke in the casino all week, to the point where she hit her point goal and actually left.  She swore off it for the rest of the week, but I'm not buying it.

 

@Sea Dog nice to finally meet you, even though it wasn't the best of circumstances with it being first thing in the morning in the Crown Lounge with the coffee machine not working.  I could tell you were hurting from your Bamboo Room exploits.

[gambler]

What an adventure. Great videos and pictures. I am so trying that goat cheese salad next month.

[Sea Dog]

35 minutes ago, mil76 said:

The flow widow has been complaining about the smoke in the casino all week, to the point where she hit her point goal and actually left.  She swore off it for the rest of the week, but I'm not buying it.

 

@Sea Dog nice to finally meet you, even though it wasn't the best of circumstances with it being first thing in the morning in the Crown Lounge with the coffee machine not working.  I could tell you were hurting from your Bamboo Room exploits.

Pleasure meeting you sir. I actually felt pretty good just tired. I think a nap will be in order today..

[lenquixote66]

23 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

One in a Million!!

 

 

So I am standing in line waiting for our Cabo Luxury Day Sail and this couple were standing in front of us. The wife sees my sea pass card and remarks “No way.” She asks “is that your name”? to which I replied yes and she says “that’s my husband’s name spelled the same way.” What are the odds you would meet someone with the same name spelled out the same way. 

 

Meet Greg Steele and Greg Steele

Many years ago I became friendly with a guy posting on CC.He gave me his e-mail address.We had the same first name and very nearly the same last name.We both live very close to each other and in the 70’s we lived a block away from each other.We found out that we knew many of the same people including a couple that are good friends of ours.

 

[Tree_skier]

4 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

 

@Tree_skier I told Thulio you would be on Navigator soon and that you two should hit it off. Dave I think he will be an excellent replacement for Raj and you will enjoy his cocktails.

 

 

You are the man!!

[snowdogsmm]

4 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Bamboo Room Tres

 

The Bamboo Room had an event there earlier and was pretty crowded after dinner so I didn’t get back there till late to try some of their Cocktails from their menu.

 

 

Saturn Landing is  another gin based tiki cocktail but this was fantastic. Using Bobby’s Gin which is botanical gin using juniper and spices. Plus using All spice dram gives this cocktail character and depth. Very creamy as it’s mixed without ice. 5 out of 5.

 

 

Recipe Courtesy of PG Cruiser

 

Also since is was late and slow I got to have a more in depth discussion with Thulio who is the lead bartender of the Bamboo Room about Tiki cocktails and both our love for fine bourbons. Man do I like this kid.

 

We discovered that both of ours favorite cocktail is the Old Fashioned. He said he makes the best and makes it without syrup. He asked if he could make me one. Do you think I turned it down after a night full of cocktails? 
 

Instead of using simple syrup, or doing it classic by muddling a sugar cube and Angostura bitters he actually muddles an orange and cherry together with a little bit of bourbon. What a novel and great idea. Let the fruit carry the sweetness with a hint of the bourbon.

 

Sorry I did not take a picture. I started drinking this outstanding cocktail right away.

 

@Tree_skier I told Thulio you would be on Navigator soon and that you two should hit it off. Dave I think he will be an excellent replacement for Raj and you will enjoy his cocktails.

 

 

I would love his recipe for the Old Fashioned if he will share.

 

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

You need to order a Caipirinha. It’s @Momof3gurlz favorite.

 

I tried my first Caipirinha on a Royal ship several years ago since I had the drink package.  Hated it.  A few years later, I was in Brazil and had one there.  Absolutely loved it!  So much so that I brought home some Cachaca.  My point is that a Caipirinha is one of those drinks that can vary greatly in quality depending on how it's made and who makes it. My guess is that the Royal drink I had used bottled lime juice and bottled simple syrup (with way too much simple) rather than fresh limes and a balanced amount of sugar.

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, Ken at the beach said:

Other than Australia Royal has always allowed smoking in the Casino.  They do have a non smoking section but thats like swimming in the non peeing side of the pool.

 

Ken -- Looks like it may be going away ..

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/carnival-cruise-line-royal-caribbean-make-major-smoking-change/ar-AA1sF6NC

 

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, fla33023 said:

That's interesting. My husband drinks those when we cruise and he ordered one in Boleros and they muddled the fruit. He had never had it that way before and loved it. If he gets one anywhere else, he'll ask them to muddle. 

 

I always ask that the fruit be muddled when ordering any type of old Fashioned.  
I also prefer the bitters to be added AFTER the muddled fruit, alcohol and honey/syrup, have been shaken with ice and poured in the glass.   Then I ask for fruit garnish. 

 

[jmh2006]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

You need to order a Caipirinha. It’s @Momof3gurlz favorite.

She got me hooked on them too! 🤣

[Luckynana]

 

 

@Sea Dog  Greg, you are one lucky Sea Dog, running into the Captain and him finding, diving, and retrieving your Seapass!!!!!