Mandymouse's Fantasy Back2Back ~ Part 2

[disney_princess_85]

Great report so far! Looking forward to more.

 

[tony64]

Just caught up, loving it so far.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Apart from the issue with the taxi, it looks like you had a fantastic day. I really like the look of that cocktail passport.

Corinna

 

[jjk]

great day, loving all the cocktails

 

[mandymouse]

Good start to the cocktail count for the week!! Very impressive. . The situation with the car rental return sounds like it was chaotic, lucky you had got there early to get ahead of the game with the taxi.

It was fun it watch you on the webcam, they had you on there for quite a while.

I bet you didn't take much persuading of the 7 for 5 offer

Great report so far! Looking forward to more.

Just caught up, loving it so far.

Apart from the issue with the taxi, it looks like you had a fantastic day. I really like the look of that cocktail passport.

Corinna

great day, loving all the cocktails

Thanks for taking the time to read along and leave your comments guys

 

[mandymouse]

Sunday 14th September

I was awake quite early, and contemplated going for a run (though that thought didn't stick around long, hey I'm on my hols !! ). We started getting up around 8.30am, Paul had a croissant and orange juice from Cabanas and I had my first skinny latte of the cruise

It was very cloudy out, but we settled down on a lounger on top deck. After a while the wind picked up then it began to rain. We took shelter for a while but then had to get ready for our Palo Brunch reservation at 11.30am

We checked in at the Palo/Remy podium and had a short wait in the Meridian Lounge before we were called in. We were shown to our table, and unusually for Palo, it took a while before our waiter Marco came to introduce himself. This seemed the theme for this meal, we would wait ages for some water, our Mimosas and to be shown around the buffet

The one change we didn't like, was that at the buffet you had to be served your food. I could understand the whole hygiene thinking behind it, but Paul was convinced it was more for portion control. I always enjoy a nice chunk of the soft cheese there, so I knew it wasn't going to bode well when the server started using a teaspoon to put it on my plate, so after saying 'more' 3 more times, I gave up on that, though to be fair I had a lovely plate of yummy food too

As always, the food was lovely. As our server seemed either too busy or had forgot about us, when he did come back I thought I'd be clever and order our egg and main dishes at the same time. I asked for Eggs Florentine and Beef Tenderloin, and Paul had Eggs Julia and Lasagne, though this idea backfired when he brought all the dishes out at the same time

To finish off I had a tiramisu and lemon meringue trifle (which was delish) and Paul had some mini cakes. We did enjoy our meal, and the service thing gave us some giggles too, we will see what happens later in the week as Marco announced he would be our waiter for dinner

After our brunch we changed back into our swimwear and chilled on top deck which was still rather cloudy

... Cont'd

 

[mandymouse]

...

At 4pm we had a Mixology Class that had been organised through our Facebook page. We sat with Sandy, Stephanie and Clayton (who was given the nickname 'Volcano Man' with his overflowing cocktail making lol), and the class was a blast. Lindsay and OJ were hosting the class and we took turns to make the various drinks. It was so much fun and Sandy was hilarious, and I'm sure we learned something along the way too

(Cocktail with black cherry rum, absolute vanilla & cranberry)

(Strawberry Basil Mojito)

(Paul making his Pomo Passion)

(Paul next to Volcano Man)

(Fallen Angel)

(Me making a Bakewell Tart)

(Our fun group)

(The lovely Lindsay & OJ)

As we left the Skyline Lounge, we could smell food (yeah like we needed anymore lol, but you know what it's like when you've had a drinky or 5), so we had a few pot stickers and chicken strips. As we left La Piazza we realised that the Captains Reception had began for early dining, so we hovered around and grabbed a free drink (what more ????)

We went to say Hi to Sam at the Cove Bar (Hi being code for having a drink), then headed back to our room to get ready for Formal Night

(Introducing my Christian Louboutins)

Dinner tonight was in the Royal Court. We met up with our table mates again, then I had Onion Soup, Paul had Duck Confit which he didn't like, then we both had Chateaubriand which was very nice. To finish I had mango cheesecake and Paul had the strawberry shortcake

After dinner we went to the Skyline Lounge for a drink off our passport and ended up staying for a couple as Dave And Becky from our table and Sandy, Stephanie and Clayton from our Mixology class were in there and we were having too much fun with Lindsay

We headed to bed around 11.30 and found this waiting for us

Tomorrow ~ Cozumel

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Fab update

Oh dear about marco

Love the look of the bake well tart cocktail. Was it yum?

Love your formal dress very pretty

 

[petals]

great cruise so far... sooo many cocktails

 

[ukintheus]

That's disappointing about the brunch at Palo. Especially with them serving you from the buffet, I'm not sure I'd be a big fan of that. I shall stay tuned to hear Marco Part 2. LOL Sounds a bit like our Palo experience where we laughed in the end because it was funny to see what you were actually going to end up with. You are doing a great job on the cocktails and mixology ones looked really nice.

I love your shoes

 

[Starbridge]

Great report

 

[dolphingirl47]

This looks like another great day. What a shame about the lacklustre service at Palo. Mixology looked great. I love your formal night dress.

Corinna

 

[Chilly]

Lovely dress and shoes. Mixology looks a lot of fun, must do that next cruise (whenever that is )

 

[mandymouse]

Fab update

Oh dear about marco

Love the look of the bake well tart cocktail. Was it yum?

Love your formal dress very pretty

The cocktail was lovely, it really did taste like a bakewell tart

great cruise so far... sooo many cocktails

Tell me about it ... I think my liver has only just recovered

That's disappointing about the brunch at Palo. Especially with them serving you from the buffet, I'm not sure I'd be a big fan of that. I shall stay tuned to hear Marco Part 2. LOL Sounds a bit like our Palo experience where we laughed in the end because it was funny to see what you were actually going to end up with. You are doing a great job on the cocktails and mixology ones looked really nice.

I love your shoes

I could imagine us having so much fun at a Mixology class Jen

Great report

Thank you

This looks like another great day. What a shame about the lacklustre service at Palo. Mixology looked great. I love your formal night dress.

Corinna

Thanks Corinna, I bought that dress for my 50th birthday party

Lovely dress and shoes. Mixology looks a lot of fun, must do that next cruise (whenever that is )

Thanks Claire, hopefully you'll be cruising again soon

 

[mandymouse]

Monday 15th September

The clocks went back an hour the night before, but I was still awake too early. We got up, showered and got ready before heading to Cabanas for some brekkie

We checked in at the Buena Vista Theatre for our Beach Break Day at 8.45am, we were given a Pluto sticker and wrist band then waited for everyone else to arrive. After a while we were escorted off the ship, out of the port and over the road where buses were waiting to take us to Playa Mia. At one stage the CM asked for a party of two, I put my hand up, to which Paul gave me the Martindale Look, as we were pulled from the line and were going to put in whichever bus had room for us (just out of interest, if anyone remembers the Lionel Blair stare from the Noel's House Party days? Well it was like that, ). Well in the end we were seated on the bus, and together (phew!! I wouldn't have lived that down)

Our excursion cost $76 each, which included loungers, umbrellas, unlimited drinks, food, wifi and use of their pool and facilities. It was cloudy for the best part of the day, which made it a little more comfortable as it was so warm. By 10 o'clock we were settled on our loungers and the drinks began to flow

We enjoyed many cocktails and by 1pm we had had enough of the heat so retreated to the food area till it was time to board our bus back at 2pm. We enjoyed our excursion, but have done this for the past two years, so must try something else next time

We had only had a plate of nachos during our excursion, so were ready for a cheeseburger and fries once back onboard, so after a quick shower we headed up to deck 11. For the first time this cruise we were famished so devoured our burgers in no time

Around 4pm we went down to the atrium to watch the kids Halloween party, it looked like fun and the characters came out in their Halloween costumes

We were feeling really tired so went back to the room for a couple of hours to chill and cool down

Dinner tonight was at Animators Palate. Some of our table mates had gone to Palo, so our smaller group enjoyed the Crush show. I started with the butternut squash soup, then pasta bolognaise, and Paul had steak, then we both finished off with cookies & cream sundaes, it was all very nice. Our table was right next to one of the screens that Crush came to, and at one point he started talking to our tablemates, well I wasn't sure if things got lost in our Dutch friends translation, or whether he didn't realise that the show was so interactive, but when Crush asked him a question, he told Crush that he just wanted to get on and eat his dinner, so Crush announced to everyone to 'leave Peter alone as he didn't want to be disturbed as he was eating his dinner', honestly, I thought I was choke on my pasta, how I didn't just burst out laughing I don't know

After our fun dinner, we had a quick wander round the shops, but as we were shattered we called it a night

Tomorrow ~ Grand Cayman

 

[jockey]

Loving the report and pics Mandy!!! All the little animals in your state room are fab!

 

[dolphingirl47]

This looked like another lovely day. We always end up at the same place in Cozumel, too. Just for us it is Chankanaab. The story with Crush is so funny.

Corinna

 

[Chilly]

LOL at Crush.

 

[ukintheus]

The weather looked a bit iffy there when you were sitting on the beach! We've done the same thing the past 2 times we were in Cozumel too. I think we might try a beach break next time as we've never done that. We've rented a taxi and gone round the island the past couple of times, there are some great bars on the other side of the island.

 

[petals]

The characters are to cute in their halloween costumes