A Baltic boating adventure TRIP REPORT COMPLETED 11/19 - Page 27 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
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We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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That looked like a great dinner! I'm so hungry now - with only a protein shake to satiate me until dinner.
I Newsroom, and so wish it would come back! But then again, I love almost all Aaron Sorkin shows. They're so smart! Not everyone agrees, I know. We have the box set of West Wing.
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That looked like a great dinner! I'm so hungry now - with only a protein shake to satiate me until dinner.
Oh tell me about it - honestly, I am starving and I had some ice cream when I got home, after a shorter day (still not up to working full days after the weekend's hospital visit) and that's not sustained me. Dinner is on now DH is home.
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I Newsroom, and so wish it would come back! But then again, I love almost all Aaron Sorkin shows. They're so smart! Not everyone agrees, I know. We have the box set of West Wing.
I've never seen the West Wing and I doubt I will now, as I think it's probably too late to go back and watch all the box sets - we have too much else to watch.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
What a wonderful meal! Perfect table too. Those chairs look very comfy and inviting, Ohhhhh, those desserts. I like the way you think. More desserts and followed by Limoncello. Yum!
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I'm a bit behind with your updates since I wasn't able to get on Saturday. I love the look of the library as I can really imagine myself curling up with a good book there. The lunch buffet looked very delish, too.
Since I know how you all like your massages, I am so sorry that yours this time were less than stellar. The lounge has such beautiful decor. Everything you two had at the Tuscan Grille looks so delicious, but I'd have probably gone with Mark's choices as I love filet mignon.
What a nice meal you had at the Tuscan Grille and I would have been all over this being a foodie and loving all Italian food! You need to be careful with the bread and especially focaccia as it will fill you up so much more than any other bread with the add ons! Stick to one piece with a meal like this.
All your courses looked so good and especially your eggplant. One of my favorite eggplant courses is eggplant rollatini, which I know you'd enjoy and is very popular as an appetizer in the states and most Italian restaurants usually have it. I also love Limoncello and is a great finsih to your meal. While in the north of Italy back in 2006 in the Cingque Terre area a few of us in my group (Rick Steves' Tour) finished off our meal with a complimentary lemon sorbet which is topped off with a bit of vodka. I'm not at all a vodka drinker but this was so good and in many ways similar to a Limoncello but kicked up a notch! Thought you'd be interested in my experience as I like to share these when I can!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
What a wonderful meal! Perfect table too. Those chairs look very comfy and inviting, Ohhhhh, those desserts. I like the way you think. More desserts and followed by Limoncello. Yum!
It was very comfortable and probably more so than Murano, now I think about it.
Dinner looked just wonderful! I LOVE Italian food so I'm over here drooling
It's one of my favourites as well.
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Love the dress you chose to wear!
I wore it for my friends' wedding in Harvard last September and I'm thinking it will make the trip back across the pond this September for our meals at Remy and maybe Palo on board the Dream.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I'm a bit behind with your updates since I wasn't able to get on Saturday. I love the look of the library as I can really imagine myself curling up with a good book there. The lunch buffet looked very delish, too.
Isn't it funny? The library did nothing for me. I prefer to just curl up with a book on the balcony of our room.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Since I know how you all like your massages, I am so sorry that yours this time were less than stellar.
It was frustrating, but I appreciate every massage can't be perfect.
What a nice meal you had at the Tuscan Grille and I would have been all over this being a foodie and loving all Italian food!
I do remember from your trip reports how much you love your Italian food.
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You need to be careful with the bread and especially focaccia as it will fill you up so much more than any other bread with the add ons! Stick to one piece with a meal like this.
I know, but when it's that good, you just want to keep going and keep going and keep going...
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All your courses looked so good and especially your eggplant. One of my favorite eggplant courses is eggplant rollatini, which I know you'd enjoy and is very popular as an appetizer in the states and most Italian restaurants usually have it.
I may have had that, but the name isn't familiar to me.
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I also love Limoncello and is a great finsih to your meal. While in the north of Italy back in 2006 in the Cingque Terre area a few of us in my group (Rick Steves' Tour) finished off our meal with a complimentary lemon sorbet which is topped off with a bit of vodka. I'm not at all a vodka drinker but this was so good and in many ways similar to a Limoncello but kicked up a notch! Thought you'd be interested in my experience as I like to share these when I can!
I slept very well again last night, and when I did wake up, I lay there for some time, trying to last as long as I could before I got up, as I knew that getting up early was the reason we were going to bed so early every night. I managed to wait until 6:30am, which wasn’t bad, and did mean I’d had more than nine hours’ sleep last night.
This was the view that greeted me when I looked outside…
We were going to head out to the Solarium early, but we got captivated by the film the Intern, starring Robert De Niro, which happened to be on the TV channel we were on, so we watched that.
When that finished, we made our way over to the Solarium. It was already a lot busier than the day before, and I reckon we must’ve been a similar time, perhaps a little earlier than yesterday. It wasn’t packed, but there were maybe a good 15-20 people there, mainly on sun loungers. I think this is another way you notice the different demographics, and the fact that most people on here are older – people just want to sit around, and not go swimming. It’s also the fact a lot of them are fully clothed, indicating they have no intention of going near water of any kind. There was one other woman we saw in the pool, and that was about it. You just wouldn’t see that on any of the Disney ships in the adult only area – the majority of people would be in and out of the pool.
That worked for us, as we had the hot tub completely to ourselves, just how I like it. We probably spent 20 minutes in there, then we settled down into the big comfy chair by the hot tub. It is just so lovely to sit there and watch the world go by. We both read for a bit, then we decided we’d better surface and head for the spa.
We checked in for the Persian Garden, Mark’s first time of using it. He literally only tried out the hot stone chairs, whereas I went into the steam room, and the aromatic suite. However, the aromatic suite didn’t seem to be working, as it was verging on cold in there, and it certainly wasn’t like that yesterday. I reported it to reception on the way out, and they seemed surprised, so I guess something was wrong, and we were probably the first ones in there of the day.
We only saw one couple who came to have a look around, which was a bit weird, as they weren’t accompanied by a member of staff. I know that wouldn’t happen with Disney.
After a while in there, we decided our stomachs were calling our name, as we still hadn’t had breakfast, so we headed off to shower. Now here’s where Disney need to learn from Celebrity. In the women’s changing rooms, not only do they have doors on the shower cubicle that I mentioned yesterday, I didn’t look inside them yesterday, and they were massive. There’s the shower at the end of the cubicle, but in front of it is a bench, with a couple of hooks above it, where you can change, which is a really nice touch.
We made our way up to the Oceanview Café on deck 14 for breakfast, and we caught them just as they were starting to wind down the breakfast offerings, but they did in a really sensible way. They closed it down pod by pod, still offering everything on the remaining ones, and I guess they put the lunch things out on those, then do the same with the rest of the breakfast pods once they open for lunch.
I was in heaven when I saw the selections. I got some pastries first, although I wasn’t impressed by the member of staff there. I was standing there patiently, along with another woman, and he saw us, but carried on moving pastries from one plate to another. I figured any minute he’d ask what we wanted, but he turned round to us and said we could go over to the corner for pastries. for that!
I then realised they had some strawberry French toast, so I got some of that, but the piece de resistance was finding the eggs benedict selection. Now I knew the traditional version with ham and the other version with salmon, which was called Scottish (who knew? ), but there were about four or five other versions. I didn’t have my camera with me, given where we’d been earlier, but I do remember there was an Italian one with salami, and a Mexican one, although I don’t remember what was in that, and I don’t remember the names of the others. If we go there for breakfast again and I’ve got the camera, and I’m sure that will happen, I’ll be sure to photograph them and share them with you.
After a little bit of cheese as well, I was done. I figured I’d fill up, and it should last until we go for an early dinner at QSine at 6:30pm tonight.
We headed back to the room, and decided to watch some of the TV we’d downloaded from home. If you haven’t watched Billions with Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, then you should. It’s a superb drama with some amazing acting talent in it. The first episode didn’t wow us, but we stuck with it, and we’ve been truly rewarded with an excellent series.
Occasionally I would nip up to the window to get some shots of the scene outside…
Eventually, we headed out about 1:00pm to go up to the Sky lounge that we’d discovered earlier on deck 14, as we thought it looked very neat from the entrance, but there was a trivia contest going on, so we didn’t go in. Well, it was beautiful inside…
Mark went up to the bar to get us drinks, while I settled down to read. I kept looking up, expecting to see him coming over any second, but he still hadn’t been served. They had either one or two staff on, and it wasn’t nearly enough. Added to that, they made an announcement that they were about to have a gathering for Concierge Class passengers, and while we were happy to stay and read, they wanted to let us know that it might get a little loud. That was enough for me. I knew it would be distracting, and if they couldn’t be bothered to serve us, we’d go elsewhere.
We made our way up to the Sundeck bar on deck 15, where we’d been yesterday. However, it was a lot colder up there, and the wind was whipping, so we headed down to deck 14 instead and the Oceanview Bar, and managed to find some comfy chairs towards the back of the deck, so they were sheltered from the wind, which was nice.
We got a couple of drinks, and sat there and read for a bit, then Mark went up to get a second round of drinks. By this point, I was about ready to fall asleep, so to wake myself up, I went to go and get some more kiwi fruit and guava sorbet that I’d enjoyed yesterday. However, they’d changed out the selection, so I ended up with coconut sorbet, which was divine, and I couldn’t resist the coffee and after eight ice creams as well.
Mark also went up and got some desserts, and found some different ones to yesterday:
It’s good to see them changing things around. One thing we both commented on was that the English of the crew members isn’t that fantastic, and it’s certainly worse than on Disney. The amount of times we’ve both had to repeat ourselves to be understood is quite scary, and I pride myself on speaking clearly at all times, and never usually have a problem as a result.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.