4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[woody73]

I have eaten some really good food here in Hawaii - we are trying to cover as many of the 12 chefs who started Hawaiian Regional cuisine as are still cooking here.

Aloha, Lynne. Any favorite chefs or restaurants in Hawaii

Woody

 

[dee47]

Does Bear get to come on the cruise, since you got him a t-shirt?

Of course! He's too adorable to leave at home!

 

[auntlynne]

My answers to the QOTD:

I definitely get off the boat. I yhink Karen skipped one of our stops last time (a double dip at CC) or she did it just long enough to take some really good photos.

I love the wave runners - have gone in both directions out of the bay - the stop at the sand bar is fantastic. It really showcases the beauty of the water in the Bahamas.

We planned to do them again this, now that Karen is over 16 - we've been waiting for that - and now the age is 18. I would feel mean to go when she couldn't drive one herself.

We have done parasailing and hope a time slot opens up for this. Karen did the Wild Side, but has little interest in hanging out with kids and counselors she doesn't know.

Since I discovered (call me Ponce de Leon) Serenity Bay, I think CC is one of the best beaches ever. Not really fond of the Family Beach.

 

[dee47]

What is the day of the group brunch at Palo?

We requested 4/14. We won't know if we got it until 30 - 25 days out.

 

[auntlynne]

Aloha, Lynne. Any favorite chefs or restaurants in Hawaii

Woody

Sam Choy's Breakfast Lunch & Crabs
malasadas (basically Portugese donuts) from Leonards
garlic shrimp plate & chocolate/haupia (coconut pudding) pie from Teddy's on Oahu's North Shore
burrito from Maui Taco
Mariposa at Neiman Marcus in the Ala Moana Center
Verde (New Mexican style) in Kapa'a (Kauai)
the tasting menu at Hukilau Lanai, Kapa'a
Puka Dog polish sausage in a bun with garlic sauce, pineapple relish and lilikoi (passionfruit) mustard
Peter Merriman's Downstairs Cafe in Poipu (new)
banana & macadamia nut pancakes at the Waipouli Cafe
Luau at the Old Lahaina Luau (the scenery and show make the food seem better than it might actually be - or is it the open bar?
Colleen's at the Cannery in Haiku, Maui (breakfast & lunch)
Spago's at the Four Seasons in Wailea, Mauo (prix fixe 3 course dinner in honor of Hawaii's 50 years of statehood - so why was it $49 instead of $50?)
Bev Gannon's Hailemaile General Store, Maui

We've still got plans or reservations for Peter Merriman's in Kamuela/ Waimea, Hawaii (Big Island), Roy's, and saving Alan Wong's (Honolulu) for our final night in Hawaii.

Peter Merriman was one of the first chefs to pay the local farmers the going rate being paid for food shipped in from the mainland.

The old joke was that the best food on an Hawaiian vacation was that which you'd get on the airplane (and you know it's reputation!)

My DB keeps asking if there is bad food in Hawaii; I have carefully selected our restaurants to keep him thinking this. He has even gone to McD's for Portugese sausage & rice at breakfast.

 

[woody73]

Lynne,

That's a very impressive and eclectic list of foods and restaurants. May I join you next time?

Woody

 

[kcashner]

But the Villians menu is a "new" menu because of the new show. At least that is my understanding.

Kristi

When we did the Panama crossing we had 14 different menus, 14 different themes at dinner. Thus, since there were only the 7 "normal" dinners, they came up with 7 additional menus and themes for us. It was actually quite amazing. DD even came home with a server's hat from one of the nights--she told he she liked it; he replied that they wouldn't be using them again after that night and had one sent to our stateroom!

So, yes, my understanding is that the Villains menu is new...but we'll be seeing lots of other new or different menus also!

 

[auntlynne]

The last time we were at CC (Castaway Cay), we headed back to the boat under a light sprinkle. When we looked out the cabin verandah, we saw the hordes of people getting drenched in a downpour as they rushed onto the boat.

 

[auntlynne]

Lynne,

That's a very impressive and eclectic list of foods and restaurants. May I join you next time?

Woody

Have you gotten the chance to try restaurants in the various countries you have visited, or do you typically dine on the ships?

My DB & SIL think I should be some kind of travel planner - I tell them they cannot imagine the stress I feel when arranging things for others. If others don't like some aspect of a meal, activity, hotel, the weather!; I feel they are blaming me for the shortcoming. I know this is irrational, but I do have this neurotic tendency. My hats off to those who can handle the pressure of providing the goods and services or those arranging plans for others.

The funny thing was that my brother said Spago's was the most high-end restaurant he had even visited - and I picked it because I thought it wad more of their level.


But I still will make room at my table for new friends...

 

[auntlynne]

QOTD: Do you partake of the spa services?

Last cruise (?) yes - they posted specials on services during the cruise - ours may gave been a Ladies special when leaving Nassau. I had a deep tissue massage - that would feel good about now - followed by time in the rainforest room + chocolate-dipped strawberries & champagne.

Somebody pointed out a while ago - the showers in the spa are great. So much roomier than those in the staterooms.

 

[joius24]

QOTD: Do you partake of the spa services?

Spa!? Spa!? I LOVE the spa! The "Alone Time" in the villa is now my favorite...Massage, foot srcub, jacuzzi on the veranda, sparkling water and chocolate covered fruit...almost two ours of HEAVEN ! I would do it twice this time ..if my bank account would let me (still contemplating)

The Rainforest room rocks....and like I said...one time I fell asleep in the RF room and they closed the spa for the night LOL.... I woke up and the doors were closed and the lights were out and there was not a soul to see....I called the front desk and they sent someone up to let me out!

I ususally get a pedicure...so my toes are pretty for the rest of the cruise and I take advantage of those onboard spa specials ... if I can grab one.

Oh and I am doing the CC cabana massage this time too! I cant wait!

One of the reasons I fell in love with DCL is the feeling that I can take care of myself on a the cruise and know that my son is having a great time too....(wherever he is )

 

[bound2travel]

Bottom line, the best thing about cruising for us is the opportunity to interact with other people. We have a small family; I have no aunts, uncles or cousins - it is down to my father (with whom I live), my sister and her 4 daughters who live 2 blocks away (they rarely see her in-laws since my BIL died 5y ago); my DB & SIL who live in Boston.

I hear you. I lost both of my parents (2001 and 2003). Dad had no siblings, Mom's sister lives in Texas so I do have two cousins (haven't seen them since 2004). I do have 3 brothers and 1 sisters but we are spread out over FL, GA and AZ so we don't see each other either and one of them lives in the same town as me! Of course, having two brothers that are 21 and 18 years older than me doesn't help with the "closeness" factor.

I've learned to be independent and travel solo out of necessity. Being able to participate in group stuff on the cruise is my way of "not being solo" if you get what I mean.

Kristi

 

[bound2travel]

Of course! He's too adorable to leave at home!

He could the the "mascot" for the group and always have to be in any photos. Or you could use him like "Flat Stanley" and take pictures of just him at different places.

Kristi

 

[bound2travel]

QOTD: Do you partake of the spa services?

I did not my first cruise. The facial was nice (special of the day) but I prefer massages. I haven't tried any of the massages yet because of the prices.
I did the Rainforest Room my first cruise - the loungers feel great when I first sit down (and I feel asleep both times), but I after a bit my lower back starts hurting big time. That's with or without a towel back there for support. Don't think I'll make much use of the room on the cruise, so that leaves a lounger available for the rest of you.

 

[Happy Goofy]

Thanks for the info on the brunch. I am trying to keep things organized but with the two cruises it is a little difficult to know what goes where.

We love cruises also because of the people we meet. We have a very small family. My husband and I are both only children so no brothers or sisters. We have two daughters- who have no aunts or uncles- and three grandchildren and that is our whole family. We are also campers . We have a 5th wheel RV and we have meet so many wonderful people over the years that have become "family" to us.

 

[Dishy24]

QOTD: Do you partake of the spa services?

I have has a full body massage a few times & once Dh & I did a couples massage. I decided I prefer being alone!

On the TA, I have a full body massage & I booked a facial & a massage for my Mom (I put on-board credit on her room) because it is a birthday gift from Gavin. She has had a massage, facials & a manicure in the past... she did an open air on on Castaway Cay once and said she preferred it better on the ship-- she loves the beach and felt like she was losing time on it!

 

[Ginamarie]

QOTD: Castaway Cay -
Do you get off the boat?
Do any shore excursions (parasail, jetski, Manta Rays?
Do you get in the water?
Family Beach or Serenity Bay?
Lunch at Cookies BBQ, adult area, or onboard ship?
All-day (or nearly) on island or hop-on hop-off boat?

Yes, we get off the boat! CC is one of our favorite stops of all time! On our honeymoon cruise, the weather was AWFUL, and we still got off the boat even though most people stayed onboard. DH took a shot of me walking along the empty beach in my bikini, but I'm not sharing that one with you guys


We have never done a shore excursion there. We have our own snorkel equipment, which we've brought before, but won't be lugging with us this time. For this cruise, a bunch of us are signed up for parasailing (including me). DH did the parasailing on our last cruise and loved it. Depending on finances, I may have to cancel my own excursion, but I'm holding onto the slot for now.


Yes, I get in the water!


I actually prefer the family beach. I've had some problems with rough coral stuff at serenity bay. It's beautiful there, but I think the beach portion is better at the family beach if you want to swim.


We do lunch at Cookies, and we stay on CC as long as possible. I just love it there.

Looking at a recent navigator it says they met between 9:00 - 9:15 in Diversions and the run started at 9:30. This say "with your cruise staff" so more cruise staff may have joined in.

I'd actually like to do a 5K at CC. If I keep my parasailing reservation, they'd be at teh same time though. DH and I are training now for the Wine and Dine half marathon in October, so we'll be running the track onboard the ship and a 5K would be good training for us.

QOTD: Do you partake of the spa services?

I had one of those hydrobaths on my honeymoon cruise and it was fantastic.

I don't really like facials, but I would love to get a pedi and hang out in the rainforest room for awhile. I don't think we're going to have room in the budget though, which stinks. The same thing happened on our last cruise- I scheduled a pedi and then I cancelled it a couple of weeks before the cruise beause I needed to save $$ for photos and excursions.




I'm working on ordering our FE gifts now. Are we coordinating the items to make sure we're not dulpicating things?

 

[rbcheek]

my DW's (and my) favorite spa "thing" was the Rasul treatment. For couples, it has be the most intimate thing

 

[jewelmicky]

I hope you all don't mind my lurking here. I was originally booked on this Trans but had to move to the 2011 due to finances and scheduling conflicts....it seems soooooooo far away, and the Meet thread for that cruise is not really taken off yet. I have to live vicariously thru u guys for awhile yet, and can't wait for the trip reports and pics!

 

[belle1627]

Krisann - I know you said that you were having computer problems, I sent you an email and re-sent it. Haven't heard from you, not sure if you got so just checking in about the lanyards.

Thanks
Gina



As for Spa services, I was going to book a pedi. but I have read on the DIS that the service is not very good. Anyone have any experience with it??