RVs March 17th 7-night Eastern Sharing the Magic with the Unmagiced Cruise!
Cast of Characters:
Me age 30
DW age 34
DD age 14
Father in Law (well go with FIL on that one) age 59
Mother in Law (well go with MIL on that one) age 59
Day 2 Part 1: Palo Bruch and a Curling Iron Catastrophy
We woke up at 6:30am. I gotta say I was shocked. It was customary during my cruise last year to get up at 5am every morning and go up top to watch the sun come up. That wasnt happening again, and I was pretty darn glad. We got dressed and went up to Topsiders for some breakfast at about 7:30am. The in-laws stayed in the room so we went back to check on them when we were done eating. They were finally ready to emerge so we all went back up top to enjoy our first day at sea!
We got a prime table on Deck 9 next to the ping pong tables and just hung out for awhile. They were playing Little Einsteins on the big ariel view screen so I got educated while I sat there:
DW and DD played some ping pong. DD and I tried to be artsy with our camera while DW and MIL batted the ball back and forth for awhile. Heres the only thing worth showing that came out of that:
After awhile we all headed down to Treasure Ketch. DW knew that it was jewelry by the inch day (of course) so she went googly eyed over the spools of gold and silver. We got out of there with no less than three bracelets (among other things). Luckily her wrist isnt fifteen inches around! After this we went back to the room to start getting ready for our 11am Palo Brunch.
Weve been to Palo on previous cruises, but just for dinner, never brunch so DW and I were really excited. MIL and FIL of course had no clue what to expect. Wed clued them in a bit so that they wouldnt be totally caught off guard that Palo is a bit of a more upscale dining location. They really arent used to places like that. And neither are we really, but at least we can adapt. They were just so uptight the entire time. Its like they didnt know what to say or do aside from sit there as rigid as possible. I admit, it was fancy, but that is one of the many things that we liked about it.
Upon being seated, our server came to introduce herself. Neomi from Hungary took marvelous care of us! She took us up to the buffet area (as they do for everyone) and explained everything to us. That main middle table right in the center of the restaurant was not the main attraction for me. That was the fanciest table of them all filled with things that I cant even pronounce and seafood galore. It was all about the bread table and the dessert table
of course! She explained everything in great detail, spending careful attention to the entrees and pizzas available. Everything looked so wonderful and I was starving.
We dug in. I steered clear of seafood and filled my plate with mostly breads and pastries. Ive heard so much about the stollen bread on this board that I had to try it to say I did. I dumped a big ol heaping mound of whipped cream on it and topped it with the healthiest of mixed fresh berries. It was quite enjoyable! Neomi came by to see if we wanted to order anything special and we ordered a cheese/tomato pizza and a frittata (which to my non-cuisine self is an omlety sort of egg concoction). Neomi said, Is that all? and her eyes sort of went wide and a grin spread across her face. I told her that we wouldnt even know where to begin on the other entrees because we would want to share and wouldnt be able to decide. So being Palo
she of course proceeded to tell us that she would bring us everything! So, soon our table was filled right down the center with a chicken dish, pasta (my favorite), fish, and veal. Sorry I cant remember what anything was called or the details of what it was like. The chicken and pasta were a hit, the veal went untouched unfortunately. If Id have thought of it Id have let her know not to even bring it. The meal was topped off with one or two (okay, maybe three) trips to the dessert table. Just look at those beauties:
We were done. Done done done
. Not able to move, think, or look at anything edible ever again. On the way told Neomi that we would be here again on Thursday evening for dinner and asked if we could have her as a server again. She said that I could stop on the way out and talk to the manager to see if that could be arranged. I didnt stop, but figured Id just ask when we checked in on Thursday night.
From here we did a lot of odds and ends. We went to the room, back to the store, to Shutters, to the room, to the pool, to the hot tub, to the pool, to the hot tub, to a lounger, to the room, back to Shutters, the to the room for nap time. There we were, slumbering soundly. The sandman had come and sprinkled a special Disney blend of dream dust mixed with pixie dust on us and we were out like a light. The ship had just the right amount of sway, the bed had just the right amount of give, the room had just the right amount of light
all was right. Relaxation at the height of relaxation.

Then the phone rang.

A great ominous jangling ring like that of a death knell
the sound seemed to stretch into the shadows of the room with each subsequent ring.

DW picked it up and it was her mother. From DWs side of the conversation I deduced the MIL had forgotten to pack her curling iron. Holy ringlets batman!! DW was very soothing. She used her quiet, whispery voice as if she were talking to a four year old. Your hair will be fine. No, no one is going to notice your hair. Mother, it looks fine the way it is. When she got done on the phone she flopped back and stared up unblinking at the ceiling like Dracula had just gotten finished with her. She said her mom was completely freaking out and was close to tears over the forgotten curling iron. So what does DW do? Such a good daughter
she ran up to the store to see if by chance they have one for sale. While she was gone I called Guest Services to see if by chance that was an item they could provide. They cant. DW returned and they dont sell them either. So note to future cruisers: If you forget your curling iron, your just plain outta luck my friends.
Next Up: Paparazzi and Nausea