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[chezp]

Thursday 26 February – part three: how about a 180 day round the world cruise?

We just had time to pop back to the room and change before our wine tasting at Pink, and here’s what greeted us when we arrived:



As you can tell, we had two white wines, one rose and three red. What we didn’t have was anything else, like water perhaps, in between the different tastings, which meant we were just effectively drinking one glass after the other. Not how I thought wine tasting should be done, but what the heck do I know?

As the tasting went on, I came to the conclusion that I knew very little about wine, which I’d figured beforehand. I couldn’t tell you the name of our Crew Member who hosted it, although I know he works in Palo. I didn’t catch his name, and when I tried to read his name tag, it looked like Htm, with no vowels in. He told us about new world and old world wine, with old world wine being the European wines, and the new world being everything else – North America, South America, South Africa and Australia. He told us about the differences, but after six glasses of wine, all I remembered was that the new world wines have the higher alcohol content. I guess that explains why I prefer those!



We were told that the first thing we needed to do when we got a glass of wine is to look at. Darn it! That’s where I’ve been going wrong all these years, as the first thing I do is taste the stuff! He did explain that it should be clear, which I thought went a bit without saying, as if there’s stuff floating in it, something’s gone horribly wrong. He also told us that if you can see your finger on the stem of the glass when you look at the top of the glass and you’ve got red wine… well, it means something, but neither of us can remember what now! Can you tell those six glasses got the better of us?

It was interesting, but I must admit I felt a bit out of place, as he’d ask what grape and people would be sitting there saying “merlot” or “pinot” and I wouldn’t have a clue. Then he’d ask what you could smell and someone would say “citrus” or “oak” or even “blackberry”, and I’d be like “I can smell wine”… I guess I’m just not a sophisticated drinker, and probably never be, but heck, I know what I like, and that’s the main thing. It did show me that not all red wine is bad, as neither of us ever drink the stuff, as we usually find it too potent. One really was too much for us, and we didn’t take more than a mouthful, but the other two were Ok.

However, having had all that lot with nothing else, we pretty much did roll out of there, although in fairness, there was a bit of movement from the ship, so that’s what I’m blaming it on anyway.



We staggered our way over to the elevators, and headed up to deck 11 for our spa treatments. Mark went in for his shave with the same person he’d had before, but mine didn’t go quite as swimmingly. She took me through to an area, and asked me to pick a colour of nail varnish. I’m sorry, but I’m not having a pedicure. I just don’t like them, and when Alina offered it to me, she’d definitely said foot massage. She came over to see me, and said that was fine, if that was what I wanted, that was what I’d get. While the massage was very nice, let’s just say I got the distinct impression that the therapist would have much preferred to do a pedicure, and she seemed very sulky through the whole thing. Needless to say, she did not get a penny above the automatic gratuity…

I went to see how Mark was getting on, and he seemed to be fine, so I left him to it. Alina came out to give me a huge hug when I told her that we probably wouldn’t be back today, and she really could not thank me enough for coming, and it was really genuine too. She’d been very impressive with the way she’d remembered our names, and had always been so welcoming. She got a mention on the Crew Members we were impressed with in our cruise survey.

I headed back to the room, and got some photos of the scene outside…



… and then it was time to head up to Meridian to meet up with Jennifer. However, when I got there, Jennifer told me there was a Martini tasting in there, and while she hadn’t been asked to leave, she didn’t feel overly welcome there. We both agreed we couldn’t talk there, so we figured we’d head to. The next problem was where to, as a lot of the lounges don’t open until 5:00pm (personally I think that’s a failing on a sea day! ) so we ended up down in the lobby.

We sat there chatting away for ages. It was so good to catch up with her, as although we’ve spoken a few times in the intervening years on the podcast, I haven’t actually seen Jennifer since December 2009, and that’s more than five years now. It’s been far too long, and hopefully it won’t be that long until we see her again.



Now I’d said to Mark that we’d be in Meridian, and I knew he’d have looked there, and wouldn’t have a clue where we were, so I said to Jennifer that I’d pop back to get him for the Castaway Club reception that was happening at 5:00pm. When I got to the room, Mark said he wasn’t feeling great. I suspect it might have been the wine, and he told me to go on my own, so I did.

I made my way down to Evolution, and quickly found Jennifer and her family, and sat with them. I said to any food offered, as that was my only complaint about the timing of this event – right before the early dining, not the smartest move. I did help myself to a couple of Mimosas too, as it would’ve been rude not to, right?

Minnie, dressed in tropical garb, was doing the rounds, and I got a photo with her…



… before the handler took her up on stage, and Jennifer and I got our photos with her…



As soon as we were done, we realised we’d really started something, as there was now a long line.

We heard from Captain Henry, who was absolutely wonderful. He started to ask where we’d like the ships to go that they hadn’t already been, and various ideas, such as Australia, Asia and South America got floated. He then took us on a wonderful voyage of fantasy, talking about a 180 day round the world trip. Wow, if only! He did say that this was purely fantasy, and he didn’t want to be quoted on any message boards so I just want to make that very clear.

However, he did say unequivocally that Disney is looking to further expand its cruise line, and immediately a guy in front of me mouthed “new ships” and I have to be honest, that was my first thought too. Let’s hope so, and let’s hope that round the world trip one day is no longer a flight of Captain Henry’s fantasy too, as that would be amazing…

Then we had the deputy cruise director speak. Forgive me, but I don’t remember her name, but she did tell us an amazing story about a couple who recently honeymooned on the Dream, and when she got talking to them, it turns out they met at the Oceaneer Club about 15 years earlier. It turns out that their families regularly cruised together, and they got together, and then married. Isn’t that a great story?

Unfortunately, once that story was over, it was pretty much time to leave, as it was so near to the first dining, another minus point in holding the reception at this time. I grabbed a Rice Krispy treat on the way out, and went to see how Mark was doing.

He was still feeling a bit rough, but was determined to make it to dinner, as he didn’t want to miss the show at Animator’s Palate. I headed out to the veranda to get some photos of the setting sun…



Next: “find our server”

[lauriep]

I love that story of the couple who met at the kids club! Can't believe DCL has been around long enough for this to happen, though!

[Tara O'Hara]

What an action packed afternoon! It looks like you bounced back from your wine tasting pretty well! . Mark, on the other hand.......I hope he's okay! Nice meet with Jennifer and I love the photos with Minnie!! I also love the story about the couple meeting in the kids club-how romantic!!

[Cam22]

You two are flying from one event to another. We had talked about doing a wine tasting, but then totally forgot about it on our December cruise. I'll have to be better about remembering in the future.

[disney_duke]

That wine tasting was interesting... I'm not a wine drinker at all. So I'd be like you - ummm... it tastes like wine.
Busy busy afternoon continues!

[SuperDave]

What an action packed day you are having at sea! Glad they found your goggles! The brunch at Palo looked amazing with so many great choices available! You certainly could over do it there! Looked like a fun time at the wine tasting and meeting up with Jennifer later! Hope Mark recovered!

[Pris]

WOW! What a busy day. That wine tasting sounds interesting. I'm not a drinker at all, but DD and DSiL would have really enjoyed it, I'm sure. She dreams of one day being a sommelier. She has passed the entry level test, which gives her the right to take the next test to become certified. That, however, costs a lot and will take a LOT of studying on her part and developing her palate. She is our family expert, however. I can understand why Mark wasn't feeling too well. Hope he got better quickly and enjoyed dinner.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by lauriep

I love that story of the couple who met at the kids club! Can't believe DCL has been around long enough for this to happen, though!

I know, scary isn't it? It's one of the cutest stories I've heard... I just loved that.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara

What an action packed afternoon! It looks like you bounced back from your wine tasting pretty well! . Mark, on the other hand.......I hope he's okay!

He was Ok eventually...

Nice meet with Jennifer and I love the photos with Minnie!! I also love the story about the couple meeting in the kids club-how romantic!!

It's so cute isn't it?

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Cam22

You two are flying from one event to another. We had talked about doing a wine tasting, but then totally forgot about it on our December cruise. I'll have to be better about remembering in the future.

That's the only thing I don't like about Disney cruises, the way that often everything is one after the other. I know Disney can't guess what events individuals want to do, but it often seems to be the way with us.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by disney_duke

That wine tasting was interesting... I'm not a wine drinker at all. So I'd be like you - ummm... it tastes like wine.

Well, you know what? I'd be worried if it didn't taste like wine!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

What an action packed day you are having at sea! Glad they found your goggles! The brunch at Palo looked amazing with so many great choices available! You certainly could over do it there!

I think it's stupidly easy to overdo it at Palo brunch, there are just so many wonderful things to try... and of course, you have to sample everything, right?

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Pris

WOW! What a busy day. That wine tasting sounds interesting. I'm not a drinker at all, but DD and DSiL would have really enjoyed it, I'm sure. She dreams of one day being a sommelier. She has passed the entry level test, which gives her the right to take the next test to become certified. That, however, costs a lot and will take a LOT of studying on her part and developing her palate. She is our family expert, however.

Oh wow, congrats to her! It sounds like she's doing really well so far and I hope she eventually is able to become certified.

[KMB733]

The wine tasting sounds nice! Glad you were able to meet up with Jennifer!

[pamcarey]

Your Palo brunch looked amazing!! The wine tasting looked like fun, too. Like you, I don't really care for red wines, but I'd try them in a tasting like that. Great pictures with Jennifer, and I love the top you're wearing!