Il Pochi il Fiero y Blabbermouths...Magical Reunion FINALLY!!!

[mickeymo]

I know RCCL had issues when they launched Oasis of the Seas. However, I don't remember as much widespread drama in the early reports and panic and doom among posters.

In fact I originally wanted nothing to do with the Oasis before it launched. After the first sailings, I was so intrigued and now I really want to book a cruise. I'll have to wait awhile for prices to come down though.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

The Pictures of Donald and Ducky are too cute! And Ducky was a wild guess - keeping with the Duck theme of the Aqua Duck.

Lunch question - throwing out the obvious guess - Cabanas? You already said you didn't get Palo or Remy reservations.

Monica - time for another guess.....it was not Cabanas.

But speaking of Cabanas - here is a review of the lunch offerings - I do not think I have posted this yet. It may be a repeat of the (main threads).

First fair disclosure......Sam and I believe we are becoming "foodies" so you must know that in advance. Second, the night before we cruised we met a shrimper at Grills and were presented with over a dozen 8 count head on shrimp that we just caught. We went to the city Park and Sam grilled them over coals and wood - so we were a wee bit jaded when it came to shrimp.

OK - Cabanas - it is cute. The first change is that when you arrive you are escorted to a table, you can ask for inside or outside. To me, it seemed there was less outside seating and it is not connected to the main deck. I may just have not noticed the number of seats.

There was never a wait for seats, even when there was a small line (not a LINE - 2 or so families ahead of us).

Cabanas is set up like a food court. It is very cute...The "signs" over each area are themed and different from breakfast. They offered a variety - pizza, Italien, Asian including suschi, American meat and potatoes, a carving station, soup stand, seafood on ice, one day - salad bar....

We never had any issue with lines, folks "cutting" in front of us or any of the other issues posted.

We were lucky that one day our Assistant Server from Dinner recognized us and we had excellent service for extra drinks etc as well as a nice chat. I think he was just glad to see a familiar face.

In general I was more pleased with breakfast than lunch. Perhaps because the offerings were mostly meat or had lots of "sauces" and/or sweet - which is not to my taste. I was looking more for a "fresh" type - and hence it was mostly the salad. Plus, it is hard to keep buffet food hot - the dishes were replinshed - I saw several when we were serving ourselves and we did not spend much time there. The soup was very good. The rizzoito when I had it - not good (hey when you have had Palo's). I guess maybe I should have said "average". Perhaps this is DCL's way of making sure I don't over eat and save room for dinner.....

It is very convenient for lunch. Although I did miss the "themed" buffets they had on the Magic - a different one each day.

So separating out the food choices from the food quality - how did it compare??? For breakfast I would say better - for lunch - about the same.

I will be glad to conduct a more scientific study if you would provide me a grant.....

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I never thought I'd say it - but with the exception of Irene's trip report, I'm finding the Cruise Critic Disney Cruise posts more valuable/factual, less whiney and less a sense of entitlement than the Dis Board posters.

Aw gee Monica - thanks.

And we are not yet "off" the ship......

 

[justmestace]

Does the new buffet have a carving station....or I guess I should say "fresh sndwiches"....Carnival has a station where you can get almost any type of sandwhich, from turkey to ham, to roast beef...and wraps....sliced and made fresh while you wait. I LOVED that for lunch, with a small salad.
They made hot sammies, too...I had a reuben one day.

 

[paulcrsb]

Does the new buffet have a carving station....or I guess I should say "fresh sndwiches"....Carnival has a station where you can get almost any type of sandwhich, from turkey to ham, to roast beef...and wraps....sliced and made fresh while you wait. I LOVED that for lunch, with a small salad.
They made hot sammies, too...I had a reuben one day.

If I remember correctly they did and it was yummy!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Does the new buffet have a carving station....or I guess I should say "fresh sndwiches"....Carnival has a station where you can get almost any type of sandwhich, from turkey to ham, to roast beef...and wraps....sliced and made fresh while you wait. I LOVED that for lunch, with a small salad.
They made hot sammies, too...I had a reuben one day.

I'll defer to the prior poster. There was a carving station and they had two types of meat. The station is by the coffee bar and ice cream bar - not near the food court area - so it can be overlooked. Each time I visited it was "meat" - I did not see chicken or turkey so my preference was to pass. But as the earlier poster said, he thought it was yummy!!!!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Nobody wants to guess where we had lunch? How can i post pictures tomorrow morning.


??????????????

 

[justmestace]

If I remember correctly they did and it was yummy!

LURKER!!!!


Thanks....and I miss you!
We're going with Garry and Vicki on Sept 29 (Dream) for Vanessa's wedding....can you come????

 

[justmestace]

Nobody wants to guess where we had lunch? How can i post pictures tomorrow morning.


??????????????

Okay....let me think.....not Cabanas.......okay, so you rode the Duck....so were you wet? Flo's Cafe? Somehow, that doesn't sound like two foodies......

 

[chip&dale&fun]

AND THE ANSWER IS...

Can you tell now?

Have I said lately how pretty the ship is?

This is one of the murals in the hall of the Atrium.

And the light......I love all the lights and glass. This one is in the hall of the Atrium that compliments the huge chandelier. I think this is right above the Royal Palace.

And this one is by the elevators (I think) ... Took the picture because they are just so pretty.

After lunch we finished up our game of MOUSE DETECTIVE...

You must try it...GaRRy did you? Did you find this picture???

If not you are missing this great Holmes.

I think I have posted about the game - it is neat. The Mouse detective Desk is on Deck 5 - on starboard side of the end of the Atrium. I'd pick up your playing piece after lunch on boarding day. Most folks save this for the Sea Day and then it is a bit more crowded to play. It was not one of the issues of lines of people, but the sooner you start the more fun it is. There are two mysteries but there may be different combinations of each mystery. We looked for the missing art - the other mystery was missing puppies. Clues are left all over the ship. We thought this was a neat way to get guests to look at the map and cover all the decks.

Shall I say more or do you wish to experience the surprises????

 

[chip&dale&fun]

If I remember correctly they did and it was yummy!

So were you on the maiden? Did I meet you?

OK - maybe you remember Hedgie?

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Okay....let me think.....not Cabanas.......okay, so you rode the Duck....so were you wet? Flo's Cafe? Somehow, that doesn't sound like two foodies......

We did not ride the Aqua Duck on the Sea Day. I threw you a curve when I added on the Ducky picture - I had had my "french panties" that morning and the oil was still in my hair. I kinda like the bangs with curls - I might even try to copy it.

Meanwhile the timetable on the sea day was the gym, my frangipani treatment and Sam had a shave - he highly recommends that treatment as a man-splurge. Then we wandered the ship, worked on our Mystery Game, watched the battle of the horns, Saw Donald ride the Aqua Duck - went to lunch (any more guesses???), and around 2:00 began to stand in line to get the litho signed. And then worked on the rest of the mystery.

Then we went to another reception in the Roy Suite (name dropper) and raced back to get changed for the Golden Mickeys.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

And the Golden Mickeys. We had heard that the show was revised and I think they did a nice job with the changes and updates. We sat in the balcony - first row! The balcony fills up fast but not extremely early. I have mixed reviews on the balcony - it is nice. But some of the stage magic does not work quite as well.

I've also posted a few pictures of the theatre as well.

My favourite new scene is Aerials - I love the new under the sea theme and her flights. I think most of the backgrounds are updated even when the choreography has not changed. Others can climb in but perhaps the only unchanged scene is Mulan's.

So - sit back, darken the room and enjoy The Golden Mickeys....

LET'S SEE - DO WE NEED A NEW CHALLENGE?

 

[chip&dale&fun]

*Shrug* Sadly, that's the way of things. The first time we sailed on the Magic back when it was the only ship doing the 3/4 runs there was a lot of little touches we never saw again, I don't doubt to people like that.

I'm very content to not sail on it until next year, the bugs will be worked out, and I won't know what I missed due to abuse by others.

Mark - I remembered that the first sailings of the Magic had nice touches but we were not sailing in those days. So I turned over every piece of china to see it had the Disney stamp on it. YES it did. As well as the sheets....I just love the little touches. Although I missed the opportunity to purchase the laundry bag that GaRRy spotted.

I read the thread on the butter knife on e-bay and there was a lot of outrage by the posters that the knife may have been stolen.

 

[wdwgoose]

GOOD MORNIN ALL

yea you to paul long time stick around and post a little more

ok it is 20 BELOW WIND CHILL NOW no school !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and it is cold.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

The stories of the thefts and the hoarding remind me of the first scene in Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (original version) when everyone is going wild, grabbing & eating all of the grass & plants, etc trampling & distroying everything.

I never thought I'd say it - but with the exception of Irene's trip report, I'm finding the Cruise Critic Disney Cruise posts more valuable/factual, less whiney and less a sense of entitlement than the Dis Board posters.

Since when does a "horrible cruise/decline in customer service" include being told no when you are asking for and expecting requests that aren't on the menu? For example, not able to order Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars or Crustables which are not on the room service menu, or a server who is unable to run to another restaurant to get a different menu item for you.

Mike's favorite memories are on our first cruise playing ping pong and Pinochio wandering by and picking up a paddle to play with him and on our last cruise, Goofy wandered into the game room and challenged him to a game of air hockey. just random suprises I equate with the Disney customer service "magic", neither expected nor requested.

I'll need to go look at the reviews on that site. I am also staying off the main boards as I am tired of the negativity. Yes, there were some issues which I think we all expected with a new ship and crew. They still have 500 crew members to add. And it is not that everything about Disney needs to be positive - you have seen some of my negative comments in my long, long review. (The Deck 5 aft rooms being an example).

GaRRy needs to post some experiences so we can have some comparisons to guest behaviour...

Have a great day all.

 

[mickeymo]

GOOD MORNIN ALL

yea you to paul long time stick around and post a little more

ok it is 20 BELOW WIND CHILL NOW no school !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and it is cold.

All afterschool activities cancelled yesterday due to sleet and developing ice. It was strange having everyone home with nowhere to go. Awakened this morning at 5:30 with the announcement from the district that school IS in session. Wind Chill (Houston uses "Feels Like") 16. Mike just went out to the bus in a sweatshirt. No room in tiny lockers for winter coats. He doesn't have one anyway.

 

[mickeymo]

Irene, did you have lunch in the enchanted forest?

Just enough teasers on the dectective game - it looks like fun!

 

[WDWLVR]

I agree with everyone else. I'm sick of all the negativity and "entitlement" that seems to have crept on to the boards. I'd rather have an honest feedback with good and bad. Some are so negative and then get jumped on by those who feel DCL can do no wrong.

The entitlement has been around for a long time here on the boards. Some groups think they are all that - if they only knew what some of the crew thinks.

 

[mickeymo]

The CC - RCCL boards can be similar - an overly negative review and the fiercly loyal cruisers are quick to jump on the poster. But, unless you are in the upper tiers of repeat cruisers, and even then, not as much entitlement. Unless RCCL messes with their Diamond+ lounge or repeat cruiser benefits

The CC - DCL boards are smaller and there seems to be a bit more balanced reviewing.

I expect there will be negatives - not every cruise can be perfect. The Disney brand does not equal 100% perfection nor the benchmark for cruising (gasp, Did I really say that outloud ? ) I have my eye on my dream trip - 25 day Oceania cruise from Bangkok to Beijing to celebrate whenever we pay off the kids' college bills. Even then Oceania probably isn't considered the pinacle of cruising.