Random dining and vino questions

[branv]

1) Ok, is it correct that we absolutely cannot make reservations at Palo's for more then one night on a 4 day cruise? I've read a post from someone stating that they ate there every night...but that was an older post, and those people were concierge level (which we're sadly not ). Or is this untrue, and if so what does it take to go more then one night (booking on board, wait for cancellations?)

2) Does anyone know of a site online that will show a sped up time lapse of the AP changing colors?

3) If we do the non-buffet breakfast/lunches are we seated with other people as well?

4) DH is a wine lover. This is a multi-part question:
a) Fellow vinophiles: haven't tried many of the bottles I've seen on DCL's wine list. Big lover of sangiovese, mmm Tuscan, Bordeauxs...generally your heavy tannin red wines. What are your opinions...any recommendations?
b) We're planning on bringing one or two special wines...we're not talking Petrus or Margaux prices here *sigh, DH WISHES* but they're special wines for us (we don't generally have the budget to go crazy buying wine, so in comparison these are special ones we've been saving for an occasion.) It's just DH and I for this cruise, and I know they'll seat us with other people. Does it seem weird to whip out your own bottle and then suck it down in front of people? On one hand, no way in heck do we want to share these bottles with complete strangers, but is it rude to not offer to share? What is the cruise etiquette here? Or is it just how it works there, and it's not strange (I mean, I assume since they sell bottles regularly at dinner). And how in the heck does the waiter keep track of who that bottle belongs to so he doesn't pour it automatically to this stranger next to you? Yeah, yeah, I worry too much

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

b) We're planning on bringing one or two special wines...we're not talking Petrus or Margaux prices here *sigh, DH WISHES* but they're special wines for us (we don't generally have the budget to go crazy buying wine, so in comparison these are special ones we've been saving for an occasion.) It's just DH and I for this cruise, and I know they'll seat us with other people. Does it seem weird to whip out your own bottle and then suck it down in front of people? On one hand, no way in heck do we want to share these bottles with complete strangers, but is it rude to not offer to share? What is the cruise etiquette here? Or is it just how it works there, and it's not strange (I mean, I assume since they sell bottles regularly at dinner). And how in the heck does the waiter keep track of who that bottle belongs to so he doesn't pour it automatically to this stranger next to you?

DCL allows you to bring your own wine. Most other cruise lines do not.

If you bring a bottle of wine into a dining room, there is a corkage fee ($15 + 15% automatic gratuity). That's not a fee for pulling the cork. It's a fee for bringing your own to a dining room instead of purchasing wine from DCL. (Some folks on this board have thought they could avoid the corkage fee by bringing a screw-top bottle or bringing their own corkscrew, but that's not the case.) You can avoid the corkage fee by drinking the wine in your own stateroom.

If you share your table with other adults, there's nothing to worry about. Keep in mind that your dining companions will order their own beverages, including glasses or bottles of wine, and there's no expectation that they'll share their beverages with you, nor that you'll share your wine with them.

I'll let other people answer your other questions.

 

[webray]

1) Ok, is it correct that we absolutely cannot make reservations at Palo's for more then one night on a 4 day cruise? I've read a post from someone stating that they ate there every night...but that was an older post, and those people were concierge level (which we're sadly not ). Or is this untrue, and if so what does it take to go more then one night (booking on board, wait for cancellations?)

2) Does anyone know of a site online that will show a sped up time lapse of the AP changing colors?

3) If we do the non-buffet breakfast/lunches are we seated with other people as well?

4) DH is a wine lover. This is a multi-part question:
a) Fellow vinophiles: haven't tried many of the bottles I've seen on DCL's wine list. Big lover of sangiovese, mmm Tuscan, Bordeauxs...generally your heavy tannin red wines. What are your opinions...any recommendations?
b) We're planning on bringing one or two special wines...we're not talking Petrus or Margaux prices here *sigh, DH WISHES* but they're special wines for us (we don't generally have the budget to go crazy buying wine, so in comparison these are special ones we've been saving for an occasion.) It's just DH and I for this cruise, and I know they'll seat us with other people. Does it seem weird to whip out your own bottle and then suck it down in front of people? On one hand, no way in heck do we want to share these bottles with complete strangers, but is it rude to not offer to share? What is the cruise etiquette here? Or is it just how it works there, and it's not strange (I mean, I assume since they sell bottles regularly at dinner). And how in the heck does the waiter keep track of who that bottle belongs to so he doesn't pour it automatically to this stranger next to you? Yeah, yeah, I worry too much

Everyone is a allowed one Palo brunch/dinner/high tea reservation to start. You can ask to be put on the waiting list after that, or just call everyday to see if there are cancellations. Honestly..on our May repo cruise the food was so wonderful in the dining rooms, we didn't even go to palo any extra times.

I know if you do the non-buffet breakfast you are definately seated with others..so I would guess lunch would be the same.

As far as wine at the table..no problem at all. You do not offer to share with the other people, you just go ahead and enjoy it yourself. You do realize you will be charged a corking fee for taking your own wine into the dining rooms. On the 4 day cruise I would say enjoy the wines on the ship, by the glass and don't worry about packing your own.

 

[branv]

Thanks for the info! Yes I am aware of the corkage fee, but after checking out the regular retail prices for most of the wines they offer, the truth is you're already paying a "corkage fee" with the 30-50% over retail markup for their wines...I'd rather do that with wines with our own collection rather then pick and choose with fingers crossed from their collection.

That's too bad about the breakfast/lunch seating...is there no peace to be had?! Who wants to put on your social face in the morning? I don't speak above a grunt before 11 am

 

[JLDSMD]

We did a non-buffet lunch in January and were able to sit by ourselves in Lumiere's. It may have been because most people were up by the pools (it was a sea day), but nonetheless, they were seating each party that came in to a table of their own.

Also, with breakfast, I do remember on our St. Thomas day we sat by ourselves in Parrot Cay (but that was buffet). Obviously the character breakfast and disembarkment morning breakfast you sit with your normal table mates. I believe we did one or two mornings at Topsiders and the other mornings we did room service. We never got to Lumiere's for breakfast. Guess we'll have to go on another cruise so we can do that.

 

[jilljill]

We have had both experiences with breakfast and lunch, eating by ourselves and with others. If you prefer to be seated alone just let them know when you are seated and they do their best.
You can also call DCL and put in a request to be seated alone for the cruise. I'm not sure if they allow this but it is worth a shot.

If you want to avoid the corkage fee or indulge a bit before dinner just bring your own glass of wine to dinner with you. You can have wine glasses brought to your room from room service.

 

[dkis4nu]

branv - I'm with you.

We always bring wine with us-it's just one of those things we pack and leave room for. We bring special bottles that we've purchased throughout the year and it makes it extra special to drink them on a Disney Cruise. One year we brought a Cinq Cepages and a Far Niente Cab. Both outstanding. We're taking a Stags Leap, and probably a Super Tuscan this year. If you don't like the regular wine list - ask for the reserve wine list. It has alot better selections, but the prices reflect it. We always try a new wine on the Disney list, too, thought. If you don't take your own - you might try the Silverado Cab or the Chapellet. Both good selections on the Disney list. We drink a bottle per dinner between the 2 of us, so there's never any left over to worry about! Plus, we always ask for a single table, and Disney is very willing to accomodate us.

Have a great time and enjoy the vino!

dk

 

[ohMom]

JM.02 --- our tablemates brought wine for each night and paid corkage fee, we didn't. They were very generous and offered each night to share and we declined all but the last night b/c I knew if it was me i really wouldn't want to share! after being asked 4 nights in a row i decided he was just more gracious than I so I accepted I think DH reciprocated by buying him an after-dinner shot (they brought around speciality shots at the end of dinner)

we had one sit down breakfast at Triton's and I remember the server asking us if we'd like to sit with others or alone, but the rest. was pretty empty so it wouldn't have been a problem. We sat with others and enjoyed the conversations but DH and I were across from each other so we mainly talked.

enjoy your cruise!!! sounds so romantic! hope you were able to book REAS!

oh, for Palo, the poster you read may have shared ressies with others. I always understood Palo to be one ressie per stateroom, so you can book a table for four and then go twice if you are willing to double date. make sense???

 

[branv]

Thanks for the responses! I guess with the Palo thing, all I can really do is make the ressie online, and then ask when I get on ship for extra nights? The worst they can say is "no", right?

I have this image of being seated at a table alone for breakfast/lunch, and then just growling and hunching over anytime they approach with another group. We're really not that bad, I swear... Ok, maybe sometimes, depending on the caffeine infusion.

Dkis4nu: Now stop the presses, one of the wines we may bring is a Stag's Leap Syrah DH has been holding onto! I swear he hoards these things like there's no tomorrow. We're also thinking to bring an E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-pape. One of the menu's had a CDP, but wasn't sure it could compare. Now don't ask me, DH is the wine guy, I'm a one glass nurser (also known as a cheap date...but not in the interesting way )...but he goes bonkers over the E. Guigal, the DCL one would have to really be something.

Thanks for the wine tips...I've never seen Cinq Cepages, we'll have to check it out. We've seen Silverado around before, maybe we'll have to give it a try on your recommendation. Since you like Tuscan's, here's one I can recommend back to you: We had it at a restaurant for our anniversary...with a grand upcharge of $50, and we found it for just $12 at the store! (oh the nerve of these people ) The name is Roso degli Spezieri 2003..so good, but it takes at least 30-40 minutes after opening for it to really hit its mark. Like I said, I'm normally a nurser...and it may have been the spectacular food talking as well, but I was loving on that bottle like it was DH!

 

[SEVANS2208]

Please excuse my ignorance and for gategrashing this thread!

Is it possible to buy screw-top bottles of white wine in the Supermarkets in Florida? Just wondering whether I need to pack my corkscrew!!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Please excuse my ignorance and for gategrashing this thread!

Is it possible to buy screw-top bottles of white wine in the Supermarkets in Florida? Just wondering whether I need to pack my corkscrew!!!

In addition to the "cheap wines" that have had screwtops for years, more and more decent quality wines are now being bottled in screwtop bottles.

California's Bonny Doon Vineyard makes a big deal about their use of screwtop bottles.

I'm sure you'll find whites in screwtop bottles in Florida grocery strores with wine sections, and a better selection at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, with many stores throughout Florida.

 

[dkis4nu]

branv- I believe Silverado is owned by one of the Disney daughters, so it's always fun to drink that when we're at WDW or the cruise.

We don't drink alot of Rhone wines, or Rhone styles. We're stuck in a Cab rut, especially meritage or Bordeaux style blends. We really tried to jump on the new pinot bandwagon, but it just doesn't have the punch and fullness of a cab.

Palo has some good Tuscans on its wine list. You will love it there.

dk

 

[disnut8]

Please excuse my ignorance and for gategrashing this thread!

Is it possible to buy screw-top bottles of white wine in the Supermarkets in Florida? Just wondering whether I need to pack my corkscrew!!!

Not sure I'm not going to labeled as a poor trash wine drinker but Franzia sells all flavors of wine in boxes and no cork screw is needed. The boxes keep the open wine fresh. Available at all Florida grocery stores. Now, I wouldn't go and plunk a 3 liter box of wine on my dining table but my husband and I plan to take one of these for our stateroom. We're going to go wild and do the wine package for dinner.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

THANK YOU Branv for the question and everyone else for the answer - about sharing your wine at the table. I didn't offer wine to our tablemates on our last cruise. They will recork the bottle and bring it back to you the next day if you don't finish it. My bottle lasted 3 days. It would have been gone in 1 if I was sharing. I felt so selfish and cheap when I didn't share, but I don't work all year to save money to buy wine for people I don't know. YUP - I'm cheap and selfish. But it sounds like its not that terrible.

My DH used to "help" me with the wine - he would have preferred a beer at dinner but thought since the bottle was open he had to "help" me finish it. I didn't realize that he was doing this. Finally one night he said reluctantly ... Ok. I'll help you drink the wine. Since then I always say I DON"T NEED ANY HELP, but if you want some tonight that's okay too.

Diane

 

[kcashner]

When you go to the restaurants for breakfast or lunch, you are generally seated with other people to fill a table. If you want a particular section (a special server) or wish to sit with just your group at a table, just tell the head server and he will arrange that. As I typed this, I realized that we generally go to breakfast and lunch as singles or a group of 2, but we have been seated with groups of 4 or 5 and other times with small groups.

You can book one Palo ressie per stateroom in advance. Some people with more than one stateroom "cheat" by having each room book a ressie for 4 people (then they eat there 2 nights). When you are on board, you can ask to be placed on a waiting list for any additional available spaces.