How The Western Caribbean Was Won! Completed 8/10/2016 About This Page:

[SuperDave]

Tuesday, April 14 (Part I)

Well, my TR is finally back after a hiatus during the holidays, which is the usual for me. Just can’t find the time to post updates as busy with other things. Anyway, let’s get this rolling once again!

Today, was our first day at sea and thought it would be a good idea to sleep in a bit and catch up on some rest. I got up around 9:15 or so. It was another bright sunny day in the Caribbean and barely a cloud in the sky with morning temps in the mid 70's. We were just cruising along to our next destination of Grand Cayman Island, where we would arrive tomorrow morning.

I went out on my verandah for a while, before going to Cabana’s for breakfast to enjoy some time out there and take in the scenery.






Love the bright blue color of the sea!

After spending some time out on my deck, I went upstairs to get some breakfast at Cabana’s at about 10:15 am or so. It was quite crowded as many passengers also slept in today and just are having a nice relaxing day at sea and taking their time with it. I had pretty much the same thing as yesterday with orange juice, coffee, cheese omelet, corn beef hash and hash brown potatoes. The food was quite satisfying and especially enjoyed the omelet.

Next, I headed downstairs to the Promenade Lounge to go about using the internet. I needed a little bit of assistance from a CM as he explained to me about using it and you just follow the instructions to sign up and chose from different packages or pay as you go, which I went for. After that it was quite easy. I just checked my emails over the past few days and went on these boards for a bit as well. I spent about thirty minutes here.

It was then back to my room for a bit and write up yesterdays notes for this trip and make sure, I didn’t leave anything out. I also watched some TV with some of the programming about the Disney Magic, which was quite interesting. I also checked out the Navigator and see if there was anything I was interested in doing today as far as on board activities. There was a ship tour and one was at 9 am and the other would conflict with my spa treatment later in the day, so that was out. There was one yesterday, but it was during my port excursion. I guess it wasn’t meant to be!

It was about noon time now and decided to just explore the ship for a bit. So, once again I was back to deck 9 and then 10 for some photos.


Where, I’d be having dinner tonight. I was looking forward to dining here!


On deck 10 outside of Palo


Aft section of Deck 10 with windows of Palo. Seems like there is quite a view if seated in the restaurant by the window.







After, a bit of taking in the ocean scenery and taking it easy I went down to deck 9 and get some lunch. I just went to one of the counter service stands for a hot dog, fries and a coke from the beverage station nearby. It was funny, that Marcus from my dinner serving team was working the counter service stand and served me my lunch. Talked a little with him and told him, I wouldn’t see him tonight as I would be dining at Palo.

After finishing my lunch, I went down to deck 4 to check out some of the DCL merchandise in Mickey’s Mainsail. I saw a couple of t-shirts I liked and contemplated about which one to get or both. I wound up just going with one which was a DCL t-shirt and navy blue. While, I was here a couple of CMs, who work here, were arguing quite loudly with each other. That is quite bizarre as you don’t usually get to see this. Not sure what this was about, but both seemed quite angry with each other. After a minute or so, they took it in the back, where they should have done this to begin with.

I returned to my room for a while and read some of my DCL Passporter and watched some TV in my room, before getting ready for my spa treatment upstairs on deck 9 at Senses Spa at 4:30 pm.





I arrived at Senses Spa at around 4:15 pm and filled out all the necessary paper work, eg. waivers before heading to the changing room, putting my belongings in a locker and changing into a bathrobe and slippers. One of the attendants at Senses then brought me to the room where I’d have my massage and told me my massage therapist would be here shortly and just relax, while I waited for her.

Soon after my therapist arrived and talked with me a bit about the massage and what I’d be expecting with this treatment. She was from the Phillipines. This was the Deep Tissue Massage I’d be receiving for 50 minutes. I enjoyed it and was quite relaxing at times, even though she applies a lot of pressure to various parts of your body and skin. It was a bit pricey being Disney, but I really enjoyed it. The only negative I can think of was the sales pitch at the end trying to sell me various oils and moisturizers in hopes I would cave in to this. I didn’t! After this was over, I changed and paid for my treatment at the front desk.

Next, I wanted a beverage after this and Signals in Quiet Cove was just outside of Senses. I used my coin for my beer glass and got a frosty cold Stella! Just relaxed for a while in Quiet Cove and talking with some other passengers with a couple of them, I had already met as we seem to be on the same seating for dinner (late). After enjoying my Stella, I returned to my room and get ready for my dinner at Palo!


NEXT: PALO and a Bizarre Beverage Seminar!

[SuperDave]

I'm trying to edit my above post in the advanced mode with font color and emoticons, but each time I try the advanced a blank edit box comes up and I have to repaste the original post. Any idea what is going on and what I need to do?

[Disneybine]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

I'm trying to edit my above post in the advanced mode with font color and emoticons, but each time I try the advanced a blank edit box comes up and I have to repaste the original post. Any idea what is going on and what I need to do?

Unfortunately, that is a glitch Jennifer hasn't been able to fix yet. But she is aware of the problem and working on it.

Great start of your sea day! How weird that the two CMs were argueing in front of guests. That is very un-Disney-like and definitely not something I have ever encountered.

I, too, hated the somewhat aggressive sales pitch after my massage at the spa. Next time, I will make a note on the questionaire beforehand that I am not interested in buying anything. Maybe that'll help.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by Disneybine

Unfortunately, that is a glitch Jennifer hasn't been able to fix yet. But she is aware of the problem and working on it.

Great start of your sea day! How weird that the two CMs were argueing in front of guests. That is very un-Disney-like and definitely not something I have ever encountered.

I, too, hated the somewhat aggressive sales pitch after my massage at the spa. Next time, I will make a note on the questionaire beforehand that I am not interested in buying anything. Maybe that'll help.

I think I encountered the same problem when posting on my last update. I think it has something to do with the photos as that seems to be the glitch!

That was weird with the CMs and actually one pushed the other a bit aggressively! Did not want to see this and especially in a Disney store on DCL!

I did not like the sales pitch for my massage and turned that thing down very much so! I would have one more spa treatment on this cruise and thankfully....no sales pitch and a different treatment!

[DMA]

Sounds like a nice relaxing day!

[chezp]

What a lovely relaxing day, but I am so with you about the sales pitch at the end of the treatments. I really don't like that at all and I wish they wouldn't do it. Once, I did say to a therapist I wasn't interested at all and I'd give her a really good tip if she missed out the sales pitch - she did and I was as good as my word.

[xwewhisper]

Your day sounds just lovely so far!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by DMA

Sounds like a nice relaxing day!

Yes it was!

Originally Posted by chezp

What a lovely relaxing day, but I am so with you about the sales pitch at the end of the treatments. I really don't like that at all and I wish they wouldn't do it. Once, I did say to a therapist I wasn't interested at all and I'd give her a really good tip if she missed out the sales pitch - she did and I was as good as my word.

I wasn't too happy about the sales pitch as I was already spending good money on the massage! If I'm interested in these products, I'll inquire about them! Good on your part! I'm sure she put that to rest real quick!

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

Your day sounds just lovely so far!

It's off to a good start!

[SuperDave]

I'm not working this week, so hoping I can get a few updates going this week and deal with the complications of posting I and all of you have had recently with posting! Hopefully, Jennifer and Dave can have this sorted out eventually to make it easier to post with the photo links as it was before! Just had to open dual or more posts to get this done with fonts, photos and emoticons. Hope, it works out soon!

[SuperDave]

First Time Experience At Palo


Tuesday, April 14 (Part II)

I returned to my room on deck 7 at around 6:15 pm and get dressed for my 7:30 dinner at Palo. I had just bought a new suit, which I needed just prior to this cruise at my local Lord & Taylor. They had some good sales going on at the time and I was able to get, what I wanted. The sales staff, is very helpful there.

So, I was ready to head out by 6:45 and went downstairs to Keys to have a glass of wine before dinner. I had a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, which was enjoyable but expensive at $16! I was seated by the window and watched outside as it was close to sunset, but not close enough as I’d miss it because of Palo. At least, I got to witness one Monday night!


Close to sunset over the Caribbean




Probably a bit too cloudy tonight to witness a good sunset!

After enjoying Keys for a while, I headed up to deck 10 and Palo for dinner at about 7:20. I checked in and took a seat, by the entrance as my table wasn’t ready yet. The wait wasn’t too long at about ten minutes. I was enthusiastically looking forward to dining here!

Finally, I was seated for dinner and unfortunately not by the window, but I did have a good view of the kitchen, so not a bad trade off. I forget who my server was, but it was a female, who was very good during my entire dining experience.

I began with a glass of Prosecco, which was quite good along with some tasty garlic bread. Shortly after, my waiter came to my table with a cart in which she prepared my antipasto to my liking. It consisted of marinated artichokes, olives, peppers, prosciutto, capicola, salami and chunks of Grana Padano cheese. All was very good and enjoyable!



Next it was my first course (primi piatti) , which was pesto grilled shrimp with with a tomato ragu over peppardelle accompanied by mushrooms and lobster meat. Another great offering and my favorite of all the courses. It had so much flavor to it.



After, my plate was cleared my first dessert or palate cleanser was brought. This was a small sampling of lemon sorbet, which was good.



Before my entree (secondi piatti) arrived I also ordered a glass of Italian Chardonnay. I also watched what going on the kitchen off and on, while waiting for my next course.



Soon after, my main course arrived, Wild Turbot with a lemon caper sauce topped with grated Parmesan cheese. Although, it was good, the sauce was a bit heavy and the portion was quite big as you can see! Was surprised the lemon caper sauce was this heavy as it usually isn’t as it was probably a bit too thick! It was too much and I couldn’t eat all of it, which is unlike me.


A little late on the photo as you can tell!

Finally, it was time for dessert and I like this quite a bit. I had panna cotta accompanied by a strawberry/basil sorbet. I was quite full, so this was a nice and light dessert. I also had a double espresso and they also served me a complimentary drink of lemon sorbet with vodka. It was very enjoyable and I had one of these in Italy back in 2006 and this one was as good.



I finished my espresso and settled the various surcharges on my bill for just the beverages and of course the $25 fee to dine hear rather than the dining rotation. Overall, I really enjoyed Palo and would definitely dine here again. My only complaint was with the Wild Turbot being too big of a portion and heavy sauce. I had seen the lobster ravioli on the menu and that was my second choice as my previous course had lobster in it.

After leaving Palo, I went down to the fourth deck to see what was going on there and take a walk on the outside deck and view our progression towards Grand Cayman. Just love watching the ocean waves crash against the ship and the sound of them! When I came out on the deck, look what there as I was not expecting this and no one was around!




This was a pleasant surprise.


Carpeting outside of my room.

I returned to my room and get changed into more casual fare for my 10:30 beverage seminar at Cove Café. This is what greeted me!


It’s a monkey to coincide with the Disney movie, “Monkey Kingdom”, which would be premiering in the Buena Vista Theater at midnight. I didn’t go but saw some of it on my in room TV over the coming days.

Originally, I was going to cover Palo and my beverage seminar in one post, but the latter will be in my next post and hopefully tomorrow!



NEXT: A Bizarre Beverage Seminar!

[xwewhisper]

What a lovely dinner and how fun to run into the boss himself! Sorry the fish wasn't ideal for you

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

What a lovely dinner and how fun to run into the boss himself! Sorry the fish wasn't ideal for you

That was so cool running into Mickey like that and better yet in his Sorcerer outfit, which may be my favorite look of his (except maybe Steamboat Willie) What was so strange as there was no one in the vicinity on deck four outside and it wasn't that late as the weather was so great outside!

The fish wasn't up to my usual expectations as so much of it and such a heavy sauce. They could have done better with it. I've made this sauce before and is much lighter with salmon and other fish! The basic one is easy to make with butter, white wine, lemon juice and capers. I also add Herbes de Provence for that bit of extra flavor. I think they may have also added heavy cream as well, which may have made it to much for me, but not sure if this was an ingredient as sauce may have just been reduced and thickened by cooking it longer!

It's funny as good as fish is for you, it seems most restaurants add these heavy, fat full and greasy sauces to these filet dishes! There are ways to do this like the French do with butter etc, but are not so heavy like this one was!

[chezp]

What a lovely surprise to find Sorceror Mickey like that!

I'm glad you enjoyed Palo, but I must admit the turbot did look a bit heavy to me. It's a shame, as usually the entrees there are light and you can easily polish them off.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by chezp

What a lovely surprise to find Sorceror Mickey like that!

I'm glad you enjoyed Palo, but I must admit the turbot did look a bit heavy to me. It's a shame, as usually the entrees there are light and you can easily polish them off.

That was quite a surprise to see Mickey out on the deck like that!

It was too bad about the turbot as I enjoyed everything else about Palo!