The Widow & the Spinster Take a Bougie WBTA Cruise That Didn't Suck! - A Bumpy First Day on the Cruise 12/10

[franandaj]

Jet lag is brutal!

I wish I could explain why I'm not able to sleep now!

Making executive decisions is why I was able to claw my way up to middle management!

Missing that bus was a blessing! There were track works that weekend so we knew we would have to transfer. The National Rail folks were very helpful and polite....It was a tiny station so they were all over things.

Yes, it was nice not to be packed in like sardines, and then we didn't have to wait in a line in the rain for the cab to the port.

Alison lied...it was pouring! We hit the tail end of Storm Ashley and she dumped rain on us....especially in Southampton!

Well..... Perhaps we just have a different perspective on what "pouring" means. You obviously don't understand "mist".

I have NEVER seen such a disorganized check in and boarding. Yes, they were using contractors but Southampton is huge cruise port so they should have a better idea. We heard horror stories of folks on Disney transport sitting on their busses for 2 1/2 hours waiting to get off. One of the issues was the room past security but before you board was full to capacity and they were holding folks before security. I still don't know what the delay in boarding was but it was not handled well. I will add that we were the first passenger cruise post-dry dock. They did a 2 night shakedown cruise right before with cast members so not sure if that had something to do with it but it was not a pleasant experience. I've board in Dover and Barcelona and didn't run into this same situation. It was nuts!

Yeah, it was pretty bad.

We needed even after the horrible boarding process!

I couldn't believe we scored all that! I was surprised because there were so many concierge and Pearl members sailing but that's one of the beauties of a long cruise!

And it goes to show how much they hold back for onboard reservations!

These are one of my favorite menu items!

Someday I will have to try it, but I always order the salad knowing that it's one of the only ones I will have on the cruise!

Pet peeve...I wanted extra dressing. I like it on the side so I can judge how much more I will want but Disney insists on pouring it on themselves so it ended up swimming in ranch. LOL It was good and light anyway.

I'm with you there sister! I hate an overdressed salad!

The prices go up and the value of the gifts go down.

It was a limoncello spritz!

I was going to guess lemon something!

OMG, we saw "Mitch" constantly the rest of the cruise.

Yes we did!

I just happened upon the Prima Notte event. Apparently its semi-new and only offered on the first night. I thought it was a good value and like Alison said, just enough especially after a long day.

Well Prima Notte is "First Night" in Italian so it stands to reason that they only offer it on the first night.

 

[franandaj]

Oh, I know. I was just curious to how it compared to Canadian east coast prices. I don't think you can even find a lobster roll here.

I bet you could. Heck we found Greek Poutine.....

Not often, though. I'm usually impressed by everything that you remember!

Fran was always pointing out everything I forgot.....

At GF?? We loved it. I think you will too. (If that's where you're going.)

No, this.....the GF doesn't do High Tea any longer.

I'm gonna put curd on the bottom, cream on the top, then cut it in the middle and sandwich it all together.

That's an interesting approach

Oh, sure. I do that all the time. Helps the posture.

Well there ya go!

 

[pkondz]

I bet you could. Heck we found Greek Poutine.....

True!

And there is a pop up that shows up occasionally that has them, but no idea when, where or how much $$.

Fran was always pointing out everything I forgot.....

Huh. And here’s me thinking “How does she remember everything!”

No, this.....the GF doesn't do High Tea any longer.

D’uh. Of course it’s in CA.
But… really a shame GF isn’t doing it anymore!

 

[franandaj]

I love that name for yourselves!! Bummer they couldn't just go with it, but I like the work-around.

I know! I thought it was a great name, but

My Mom asked them to announce us as Princess Jackie and the Queen Mum last time we cruised, and they wouldn't do that either!

The Rainforest Room is just heaven!!!!!!

If you've only experienced the Magic and the Wonder version, you have a lot to upgrade!

I've not been to the ones on the Dream/Fantasy/Wish, but I'm dying to!

These are super fantastic! I love the hot tubs the most. So much better than the "people soup" in the regular hot tubs.

Sounds like an early bedtime was certainly necessary after all the chaos of getting on board. But glad you could leave all the rain and port waiting behind you with a long cruise ahead to relax!!!

We had no choice, we couldn't stay awake any longer!

 

[franandaj]

Tea at Fortnum looked great as always. Do you not get a piece of cake to go anymore? When we did the tea in 2017, they sent you home with a slice of battenburg cake.

I think they must have substituted the macaron as a togo snack instead of cake, because we definitely did not get any!

They also gave us me jars of the jams and lemon curd. Granted it’s been a while so I could see how they could have scaled back.

We got the jars of the jams and lemon curd, but I left them in the cooler compartment of my carry on for so long, by the time I remembered they were there, they were definitely not good.

I don’t love that they don’t show train platforms til the last minute. It can be a tough mad dash to the train with luggage. I got quite adept at the train travel when I lived there as we always took then train to gatwick to fly (airport was less busy than Heathrow).

Yeah, that was the toughest part. I really liked in Germany and Austria last spring where you knew exactly where to be and when.

 

[franandaj]

The cruise has started! Yeah!

If I didn't already say it If I did, consider yourself very welcome!

My husband and I were on the cruise immediately after yours!

Oh Wow! I heard there were a lot of snafus on that voyage!

Boarding was a disorganized mess (I think because it was the first cruise post transatlantic and took longer to clear the ship? I guess you would know that part since you were disembarking. IDK).

Yes, it was crazy going through customs. As Jill said earlier, the facial recognition stuff wasn't working so everyone had to be cleared the old fashioned way. We finally got ourselves a porter who was like a Fast Pass through the process.

Anyway, we had a 11:45am port arrival and were boarding group 5 … we didn’t get let into the building until 12:30-ish and didn’t board the ship until after 1:00pm.

Yeah, that's definitely not normal.

There were a whole lot of hot, sweaty people being herded around like cattle in the parking garage. Luckily, it took a lot longer to get to the port via Uber than we thought (due to traffic), so we actually arrived late and about 5 minutes before our port arrival group was being led into the building, so we spent very little time in the garage - but people were not happy.

I bet people were not happy!

Then there was a fire in the incinerator room and we didn’t leave port until around 9:30pm (but the lights of Fort Lauderdale were very pretty to view from the ship).

I did hear about that part....

Then there was a medical emergency the next day and they had to come back to Port Everglades in the middle of the night to drop off the patient. We spent quite a lot of time docked in Port Everglades! It was quite an adventure!

But did not hear about that part....

We had a medical emergency when we were on an Easter Caribbean Cruise, we had to make a detour to Turks and Caicos, but there wasn't a port so a tender boat had to come meet the patient while one of the life boats sailed out to meet the tender. We ended up missing part of our time at Castaway Cay due to the detour. But it is great how Disney takes the time to care for their medical emergencies!

Looking forward to the next installment! Your TR’s are a fun distraction from heavy life happenings and I really enjoy the escape! Thanks so much for continuing to share!

The installments might be a little slow. I'm leaving this afternoon to go to WDW for a week. I may have time when I'm there for updates, or maybe not!

 

[franandaj]

You can force them through on iPhone, not sure with other kinds.

I'm new to this whole "do not disturb" function. I had to Google how to use it, and I really can't use it because I need to be available in case of tenant emergencies.

Of course. What's a vacation without trouble back home?

Sorry about that.

Well, it is par for the course! I mean on the WDW vacation last year there were issues with the house meter electricals. And I've been having tenant drama in one of the buildings as well. Hopefully that has calmed down.

How exciting!!!

Yeah, this is an "experimental" program, now I find out. And they really didn't think it through very well. It will be interesting at apartments in the summertime to say the least. If not downright smelly.

Really? That's kinda strange.
You'd think the platform would be sorted out... dunno... like 24 hours or more, in advance.

You would think, but I guess not.

So it worked out well, that you were late for the first one. Only about a 5 minute wait had to be worth the extra room.

Yes, that part did work out well!

Really? Very surprised for Disney.

Well it really wasn't Disney running the boarding process. The employees probably work for the port. Disney contracts them since this port was a one and done.

Close, but no cigar.

We just went with it. What else could we do?

Was curious about that. How was it? I've had really good... and really bad empanadas.

They must be really good, cause Jill says it's her favorite appetizer from this menu.

Not okay. Wonder what the holdup was?

No idea!

Also my choice. Looks really good too.

It's so delicious! I'll be having it in May again. Even if I did have steak the night before!

No surprise there. Have you ever won?

I haven't. Jill may have won something once.

Had to Google who that was. Maybe it was him but he was travelling incognito.

No, because he probably has a secret service detail. Lots of people would probably love to take him out.

mmmm... love wagyu beef.

Did you put the clotted cream on top or under the lemon curd?

Har, de, har, har, har....

 

[franandaj]

True!

And there is a pop up that shows up occasionally that has them, but no idea when, where or how much $$.

See????

Huh. And here’s me thinking “How does she remember everything!”

Thanks! I didn't think my memory was that bad!

D’uh. Of course it’s in CA.
But… really a shame GF isn’t doing it anymore!

And it was absolutely delicious!

I really wish that they were doing it still. We probably would have booked it for this trip if they were.

 

[franandaj]

Day 6

Both of us tossed and turned a bit in the night. The ship was going very fast and with the storm, the water was very choppy. You could really feel the bed rockin’ and rollin’ and boy was it evident when I got up to use the restroom! I was tossed all over the cabin.

Before we went to sleep we had discussed the timing for the morning. We had massages at 8AM. Boy did our bodies need them! I wanted to have a little food in my tummy before going to the spa. Even though we had Palo Brunch at 10AM, I didn't want to arrive starving.

Jill did.

So I got up at 5:45 AM. I did my morning routine of pills, blood sugar testing, eye drops, the works. It takes a little while so by the time I went up to Cabanas they had some breakfast items available.

I had just enough to take the edge off, went back down to the cabin. Jill was dressed and around 7:30 we headed up to the spa.

The massages were fabulous. But the ship was very rocky. I had to grab the handrails just to walk to my treatment room. We were getting tossed around like ragdolls. I stopped at the Cove Cafe for a pick me up and met Jill back at the room. She had climbed back underneath the covers.

As it got closer to 10AM, we got dressed And headed up for brunch.

We were seated at a table with a perfect view of the ocean. Unfortunately the ocean wasn't being very perfect.

There is a stretch of water between France and Spain, known as the Bay of Biscay. It is where the deep Altantic ocean hits a shallow shelf and the waters here are quite turbulent.

Victor was our server and he was just a nice as could be. He was very attentive. We started off with a Prosecco for me and a Mimosa for Jill.

We started off with the Bread service.

We perused the menu, although both of us already pretty much knew what we wanted.

Jill started off with an Almond Croissant.

For my pastry I picked the Lemon puff pastry tart

I had to have the classic Benedict.

And it was just perfectly cooked!

Jill went for the Mickey Waffle and fruit. I tasted it and it was definitely good, but she wasn’t able to eat much of it.

At some point the Head guy, not sure what you call him. Restaurant Manager? Came by and pointed out how large the waves were out the window in front of us. Jill was like, “Please stop”.

I had finished my prosecco and ordered a Bloody Mary.

I was getting pretty full, but thought that the Celery Soup might not be too much for me. It was. Not only was the soup rich, but there was Italian Sausage and croutons in there that just made it so filling, I couldn’t finish it.

Jill had really been looking forward to the Chicken Parmesan, but this just wasn’t the same as when I first started cruising. Back then it was pounded so thin, you could cut it with the side of your fork. This was basically a regular chicken breast with red sauce and cheese on top.

I even went back and looked at the picture from 2012. Well here, you be the judge.

After that we were stuffed. Plus with our water view table and looking at all the giant waves coming in, Jill was feeling even more sick. She went back to the room.

I took a picture with Minnie after Brunch. The photographer was commenting on how our outfits nearly matched.

I went to the gift shop and Guest Services to check on the internet packages. It turns out that with the internet package, it's not assigned to one device, but one sign-on. Since Jill and I didn't need to be online at the same time we shared an internet package. Well I purchased it and we traded off using it. I can write off 50% of the package because I can say that I need 50% to be connected for business. The way it works now is you pay by the day. I got the medium package, where you can post pictures to social media, get email, and make voice calls. I didn't need TikTok, streaming music, or faster speeds.

Then I went to the gift shop to see if they had any TA cruise specific merch. They had one t-shirt and one polo shirt. The only sizes they had out were small and one medium. I asked at the counter and they had a few more sizes in back. They were completely sold out of XL. They did have 2X and Large (which the gal told me ran small), so I got the XXL. I WhatsApped Jill to ask if she wanted a t-shirt but she was asleep, and didn't hear the phone go off.

When I got back to the room she said that she did want one, so I went back down to the gift shop. There were no larges on the rack. Luckily the guy who was at the Cashier's stand hadn't had the time to put out what was left of the Larges, so he still had a couple left. Once I had Jill's T-shirt, I sat in the lobby surfing the newly purchased internet.

Then I decided I better get on with the business of the day, which was doing laundry. I'd pretty much worn all my casual clothes in London and while boarding the ship. I had brought capris for the latter part of the trip (as we got closer to Florida), and realized that I'd be basically inside all of today. By wearing those (after I changed out of my Palo Brunch clothes), allowed me to wash all my long pants.

So then I began the task of laundry. It turns out that everyone else on the ship seemed to have the same plan. The Launderette on my floor was at the complete other end of the ship. I heard someone say the ship was 1100ft from end to end. We weren't quite at the one end, but the laundromat was at the other! Say that even if I walked only 900ft each time I went to the laundry room, I still walked nearly a mile and a half doing the laundry.

On my first trip to the washers, I was able to score two of the six washing machines in the room. But I still had one load left. I checked the room on the deck below mine, it was possibly a little closer, but it only had two washers and dryers. With the extra trip down to Deck 8 I had about 2000ft invested Into the laundry trek. I went back about half an hour after to check my laundry, and it was still dry. The washing sheet was still intact. It turns out I had actually never started it! Doh! Now that I figured out how it worked, I got a text on the app that my washer had started. I started the second one, and was able to secure a third washer as well. Now all three would be done within a 15 minute period of each other. Back to the room. (We're up to about 3800ft now).

I got a text that my washer was done almost half an hour later and went back to change them. Even though some of the other washers weren't done yet, I also got texts for them. I waited until all the washers were done and was able to put all the laundry into one dryer. I kept some stuff to hang dry because I was afraid that it might shrink In the dryer.

I got the text message that the dryer had started and then I made the walk back to the room (5600ft just in laundry invested so far). I believe that at this point we decided to watch an “On Demand” movie in the room. I chose the 2003 Freaky Friday. I'd never seen it before and since it was recently announced that they were making a sequel, I figured I should watch it.

The final text that the dryer was done came in and I made the last trek of the day. I folded my laundry and brought it back to the room. (Now I've walked 7300ft for the sake of laundry). A mile and a half would be 7920ft, and since we will never know how many feet shy of the 1100ft my cabin was from the end of the ship. Suffice to say I walked a long way to do my laundry.

I believe we finished up the movie, before we headed up to the Rainforest Room. It was right around 5PM and we figured anyone with early dining would be heading back to change and get ready.

We were right. As we were getting into one of the hot tubs, the woman in there told us she needed to get out anyways as she wanted a shower before early dining. Technically the hot tub up there holds two people, but we've pushed that a bit. Besides I haven't seen any signs this trip making us aware of that fact.

We soaked for about 20 or so minutes and then laid down on the heated tile loungers. Jill said that I fell asleep. I'm not sure how long we laid there, but it was super relaxing. Then we went back to the locker room and changed into our regular clothes.

We were hungry for a little snack, and popped by the pool food on deck 11 and the only one open was the one serving burgers, chicken fingers, hot dogs, Wurst, and fries. I thought about just having an order of fries. I only wanted a little snack. Then Jill suggested room service. That sounded like a plan to me!

In hindsight it must have been after 6PM because all the other food options closed at 6PM and the burger/dogs/fries option was the only one open later.

She ordered the cheese plate “All Hands On Deck”

And I got the Buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing. This was a lot more than I expected. The last time I ordered this, I got four wings. They were spicy and the blue cheese dressing was awful. It was thin, and had no blue cheese flavor.

But Jill hates blue cheese and there was a big ole chunk of it on her cheese plate. So to relieve the fire in my mouth, I ate her chunk of blue cheese and a few other pieces of cheese, as well as a couple grapes.

By this time I realized that they were doing photo ops in the Lobby. In the original schedule they published tonight was Formal night, but upon consulting the Navigator tonight was actually Cruise Casual. I didn't want to get my picture taken in pants and a T-shirt because they were doing backgrounds, so I swapped out the dress I planned to wear on the night that was now formal night, and ran down to get some pictures.

While I was waiting in line for Chip and Dale, I snapped this picture of the “party” going on in the lobby. There was a band playing and it was a very festive atmosphere.

Jill and I planned to meet at Enchanted Garden where dinner was this evening. I texted her that I was in line for Chip & Dale and then I would grab a drink and meet her at the restaurant.

[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

Jill got there way before me, I was still getting my drink when she texted me that she was at the table. I got a d.mule from the District Lounge. Ooops! Sorry no picture.

When I arrived at the Enchanted Garden, Jill told me that our server said that “Mitch McConnell” came down to dinner the night before after Prima Notte. She proceeded to dining shame Jill for not having the “fortitude” to show up. Without having met her, I was already not liking her a lot at all.

At some point the server showed up and started to tell us all about the menu. It was pointless because both Jill and I already knew what we were ordering. We placed our orders, and then she tried to get us to add some courses. I told her, “I don't need anything else, if I'm going to have the date pudding for dessert.”

My picture of the second page of the menu was blurry so I only got the first page.

Once we placed our food orders our drink server came back. Jill had already told him that we ordered the wine package, but she didn't know which wine we had talked about ordering tonight. It turns out that the wine we wanted wasn't available on this cruise, so we had to pivot. We decided on a Spanish Rioja, which turned out to be a fantastic choice.

Jill ordered the Tomato Soup. She seemed to like it, and finished it very quickly.

It took me a little while to finish my salad. First because they really didn't put any dressing on it. Once they brought me extra dressing on the side, I started to eat the salad.

At least three times, someone tried to take it away from me before I was done. Finally I finished and let them take it. And then they brought the Prime Rib. It had probably been sitting under the lights for a while because the top was over cooked and no longer medium rare. It was also fairly cold. Don't get me wrong, dinner was still very tasty, I just did feel like we got the attention that we had with past severs.

A photopass photographer came by while we were eating and took our pictures.

When it came to dessert, the server tried to sell us on a number of different desserts that were on the menu. Jill said she didn't want any right from the start, but yet the server continued to spout the virtues of the various desserts. I realized that she hadn't paid a word of attention when I said I wanted the Date Pudding. Her gratuity was rapidly slipping into “no additional funds”.

She started to tell us about the menu for the following night. Puh-lease. You don't think I totally know about the menu with the Grand Mariner Souffle? You're suggesting that I order the Creme Brulee? Why? Because the kitchen makes too many of them because every person in their right mind orders the Grand Mariner Souffle?

She did bring me the Date Pudding with a Creme Brulee Martini. It was absolute sugar overload, but it was so tasty. I went right to bed as soon as I got to the cabin.

Our blanket animal.

My stats for the day.

 

[missjackiemcg]

At some point the Head guy, not sure what you call him. Restaurant Manager? Came by and pointed out how large the waves were out the window in front of us. Jill was like, “Please stop”.

Seriously, sir, please stop!!

Now I've walked 7300ft for the sake of laundry

I don't even want to go down to my basement to do laundry, LOL! This is true dedication to the laundry assignment!

Creme Brulee Martini. It was absolute sugar overload, but it was so tasty.

I always think about ordering this, but never do. It does look delicious!!

All of your character pictures on this night are just darling! I love the one with Chip and Dale!

 

[KarriWTiggerFan]

Love this trip report - time in England and a cruise!! What's not to love!!!!

 

[franandaj]

I don't even want to go down to my basement to do laundry, LOL! This is true dedication to the laundry assignment!

Well it was either do laundry or go naked fir the rest of the cruise! Not a lot of choice!

I always think about ordering this, but never do. It does look delicious!!

I know I've had it before and it was so good, but not something to have with dessert every night for sure!

All of your character pictures on this night are just darling! I love the one with Chip and Dale!

Thanks! I really feel like i got some great character shots this trip!

 

[pkondz]

Well, it is par for the course!

And now you've taken up golfing, too.

I mean on the WDW vacation last year there were issues with the house meter electricals. And I've been having tenant drama in one of the buildings as well. Hopefully that has calmed down.

Sure hope so.

Yes, that part did work out well!

Well it really wasn't Disney running the boarding process. The employees probably work for the port. Disney contracts them since this port was a one and done.

Ah. That would explain it, then.

They must be really good, cause Jill says it's her favorite appetizer from this menu.

Good!

I haven't. Jill may have won something once.

Really! Good for her.

No, because he probably has a secret service detail. Lots of people would probably love to take him out.

I have no idea. I'll take your word for it.

Har, de, har, har, har....

Thanks! I didn't think my memory was that bad!

It's not!

 

[pkondz]

Both of us tossed and turned a bit in the night. The ship was going very fast and with the storm, the water was very choppy.

You could really feel the bed rockin’ and rollin’

If the bed's a rockin'...

boy was it evident when I got up to use the restroom! I was tossed all over the cabin.

We had massages at 8AM. Boy did our bodies need them!

After a beating from just going to the bathroom... I bet you needed it!

Even though we had Palo Brunch at 10AM, I didn't want to arrive starving.

Jill did.

I'm with Jill, here.

Bit sparse. Looks like you wanted to arrive pretty much starving too!

But the ship was very rocky. I had to grab the handrails just to walk to my treatment room.

met Jill back at the room. She had climbed back underneath the covers.

Lazy bones!

Actually, sounds really nice after a massage.

Funny. I just commented on @Steppesister PTR how you wax poetic about Palo.

We were seated at a table with a perfect view of the ocean. Unfortunately the ocean wasn't being very perfect.

Yikes.

There is a stretch of water between France and Spain, known as the Bay of Biscay. It is where the deep Altantic ocean hits a shallow shelf and the waters here are quite turbulent.

Huh. Did not know that.

We started off with a Prosecco for me and a Mimosa for Jill.

That's "Mmmmmmmmmmosa".

For my pastry I picked the Lemon puff pastry tart

Didn't know you would have pastries too. Nice.

I had to have the classic Benedict.

And it was just perfectly cooked!

Looks good! I can't imagine having a medium or (shudder) hard poached eggs benedict.

Jill went for the Mickey Waffle and fruit. I tasted it and it was definitely good, but she wasn’t able to eat much of it.

Not quite starved enough.

At some point the Head guy, not sure what you call him. Restaurant Manager? Came by and pointed out how large the waves were out the window in front of us. Jill was like, “Please stop”.

Oh dear! Do you remember this?

I was getting pretty full, but thought that the Celery Soup might not be too much for me. It was.

I was thinking I'd have picked the tomato soup. Maybe it would've been lighter than one with sausage in it! (Which is a surprise, for celery soup.)

Jill had really been looking forward to the Chicken Parmesan, but this just wasn’t the same as when I first started cruising. Back then it was pounded so thin, you could cut it with the side of your fork. This was basically a regular chicken breast with red sauce and cheese on top.

Yeah... no.
One reason why I hardly ever order it. It's rarely done well.

I even went back and looked at the picture from 2012. Well here, you be the judge.

And on a bed of risotto, no less! Yum.

with our water view table and looking at all the giant waves coming in, Jill was feeling even more sick. She went back to the room.

Poor Jill.

I took a picture with Minnie after Brunch. The photographer was commenting on how our outfits nearly matched.

Nice shots, too.

It turns out that with the internet package, it's not assigned to one device, but one sign-on. Since Jill and I didn't need to be online at the same time we shared an internet package.

Good call.

Then I went to the gift shop to see if they had any TA cruise specific merch.

Wondered what "TA" stood for... until I saw the shirt.

So then I began the task of laundry. It turns out that everyone else on the ship seemed to have the same plan.

Poop.

Say that even if I walked only 900ft each time I went to the laundry room, I still walked nearly a mile and a half doing the laundry.

With the extra trip down to Deck 8 I had about 2000ft invested Into the laundry trek.

Had second thoughts? About having the laundry service do it instead, I mean?

The washing sheet was still intact. It turns out I had actually never started it! Doh!

I chose the 2003 Freaky Friday. I'd never seen it before and since it was recently announced that they were making a sequel, I figured I should watch it.

I've never seen it. How was it? Is that the one with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis?

Technically the hot tub up there holds two people, but we've pushed that a bit.

With three people who all knew each other?

We soaked for about 20 or so minutes and then laid down on the heated tile loungers.

<sigh>
Sounds wonderful.

Jill said that I fell asleep.

Not surprised! Be hard not to.

She ordered the cheese plate “All Hands On Deck”

Looks... serviceable.

They were spicy and the blue cheese dressing was awful. It was thin, and had no blue cheese flavor.

Well... yuck. Although the wings look okay.

I swapped out the dress I planned to wear on the night that was now formal night, and ran down to get some pictures.

Must say that's a beautiful dress. You look amazing in it.

While I was waiting in line for Chip and Dale, I snapped this picture of the “party” going on in the lobby. There was a band playing and it was a very festive atmosphere.

Fun.

Jill told me that our server said that “Mitch McConnell” came down to dinner the night before after Prima Notte.

And... okay? I don't think I'd really care.

Heh... I might've asked if I was being told because he wanted my autograph.

She proceeded to dining shame Jill for not having the “fortitude” to show up.

I don't get this? Dining shame? Fortitude to show up... to see Mitch McConnell?
Sorry, not following.

It turns out that the wine we wanted wasn't available on this cruise, so we had to pivot.

Jill ordered the Tomato Soup.

There it is.

It took me a little while to finish my salad. First because they really didn't put any dressing on it.

Um... that's not a salad. That's just a hunk of lettuce.

At least three times, someone tried to take it away from me before I was done.

Stab 'em with your fork!

And then they brought the Prime Rib.

mmmmmmmm... prime rib.

It had probably been sitting under the lights for a while because the top was over cooked and no longer medium rare. It was also fairly cold.

Well, that sucks.
I'd be so looking forward to it, and then...

A photopass photographer came by while we were eating and took our pictures.

I despise those. Can't you see I'm eating? Go bother someone else.

Jill said she didn't want any right from the start, but yet the server continued to spout the virtues of the various desserts. I realized that she hadn't paid a word of attention when I said I wanted the Date Pudding. Her gratuity was rapidly slipping into “no additional funds”.

Can see that.

She started to tell us about the menu for the following night. Puh-lease. You don't think I totally know about the menu with the Grand Mariner Souffle? You're suggesting that I order the Creme Brulee? Why? Because the kitchen makes too many of them because every person in their right mind orders the Grand Mariner Souffle?

Your love of the Grand Marnier Soufflé is legendary.

Our blanket animal.

What even is that??

My stats for the day.

Most of it laundry related...

 

[missjackiemcg]

Well it was either do laundry or go naked fir the rest of the cruise! Not a lot of choice!

You made the right decision!!

 

[franandaj]

Love this trip report - time in England and a cruise!! What's not to love!!!!

Glad to have you here!

 

[DnA2010]

Yum, these all look delicious to me!

And Marzipan candies

Whereas these look fake!

Tasty, although so much for one person! Well the sweets really

I went with the standard assortment of sandwiches. Jill opted out on the cucumber and trout sandwiches. She got extra of the coronation chicken sandwich.

I would probably opt out of the trout, especially after I read the below- jelly fish I really don't like mustard much, although it's really yellow mustard I'm not very found of, I'd probably ask for none of that, or light. I like curry so would probably as for the extra Corrie chicken as well

My favorites were as follows:
Ham & mustard
Cucumber
Trout (which I proclaimed “tastes like fish jelly!”)
Coronation Chicken (I didn't like this as it had a curry flavor to it that i didn't like)
Egg

I feel like mine would be

Corrie Chicken
Cucumber
Ham
Egg (I don't really purposely eat egg salad sandwiches)
Trout (which I probably wouldn't have tried)

They also brought us this delicious lemon curd,

LOVE lemon curd

Earl Gray. Hot

United Federation of Starships...good old JLP

Some people think the clotted cream should go directly on the scone, and the lemon curd/jam should go on top of it. This never occurred to me, as I clearly thought “the way” to do it was to put the lemon curd on first, then the cream on top.

oh yes, I remember this debate- personally I'm jam and then cream, so as to not smush the cream, but if I remember correctly, it's more popular to put the jam on the creme

nd as it turned out, one of those little macarons made it’s way into each of our togo containers.

was it a surprise?

Once inside we were offered a shot of schnapps.

Heck ya! you know it's going to be good when it starts with a shot!!

Somehow, they didn't return for the second half, and everyone in our area practically cheered!

The show was fantastic!

Glad those annoying broads didn't wreck the second half and that the show was so good

 

[DnA2010]

I tried to go back to sleep for an hour and nothing happened, so I gave up and got my phone out and tried to get caught up on the TR notes. I also posted on instagram and at 4AM I tried to go back to sleep. Jill hadn't been able to fall asleep at all so far. I laid awake until just after 5AM and I gave up. I started to get dressed and packed up my stuff. Jill had lightly fallen asleep, but didn't get any good sleep.

Brutal, I was thinking, this is going to hit them later as I read along

There was absolutely no place to store luggage other than the overhead rack, and that would only hold carry-on size luggage. We piled our suitcases onto the seats and thank goodness we were on a nearly empty train.

Yikes, good thing the train wasn't full!

We bailed on the Uber and luckily this was a bus where the bags were stored underneath. The bus was nearly empty and Jill and I each had a row to ourselves.

Score again, a bit of a trek to the port!

Classic England!

It wasn't until 12:25 that our Boarding Group was called, we were number 8.

What would you say normal is?

When we reached the atrium, one of the CMs asked us how we wanted to be introduced, we said, “the Bougie gals”. She didn't think the “powers that be” would like it much if she said that, so she called us the “Bougiegal family.”

Hehe that's awesome, her version is still good

Jill got the Empanada. It was still very hot when it was served to her.

this looks tasty with it's dipping sauce

this looks nicely cooked! is this their med-rare?

ill got the Chicken Caesar salad, she said that she likes this one as well and seems to order it most of the time on the first day as well.

that doesn't really look like a ceasar salad, but looks tasty

I had a French Martini, and Jill had some sort of Spritz. Don’t remember what kind.

How was the French martini, I know we've had these together before...

Here is a display of [almost] all the foods we were served, with their wine pairings.

This looks like a lovely little supper indeed!


Hope you two got some rest!

 

[DnA2010]

Both of us tossed and turned a bit in the night. The ship was going very fast and with the storm, the water was very choppy.

Awww I was hoping you got a decent sleep

I stopped at the Cove Cafe for a pick me up

I think I've seen some pics now where they had characters on the coffees- I forgot to get one on the Fantasy, crazy hey! I think we had some sort of coffee card the first time

We started off with the Bread service.

Did you try any?

Perfect!

a Bloody Mary.

Or a Caesar if you are in Canada (although it is slightly different)

I remember asking you what this was and was surprised it was celery

I even went back and looked at the picture from 2012. Well here, you be the judge.

Now this one looks soo good!

you two almost match!

Suffice to say I walked a long way to do my laundry.

That was a lot of walking indeed!

before we headed up to the Rainforest Room. It was right around 5PM and we figured anyone with early dining would be heading back to change and get ready.

Glad you got some relaxing in!

This was kinda similar to ours on the Fantasy, but I can't find the pic to check, I know we just got basic saltine crackers with it though

They were spicy and the blue cheese dressing was awful. It was thin, and had no blue cheese flavor.

I wonder if they gave you ranch instead?




I'm getting closer!