A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY
TRANSIT THE PANAMA ✔ BIRTHDAY DINNER FOR DEAR FRIEND BOB's BIRTHDAY✔
Just a reminder that after you post a comment if it includes a question then we will repost your question and your answer on the tabs section titled "Ask Keith and Anne Marie" which can be found towards the top of the home page.
We began last evening by having cocktails at the Captain Giske’s Quarters. A few times a cruise these receptions are scheduled. Usually around 30 to 40 guests are invited and several senior officers and senior crew also attend. Canapés and drinks are served and it is a nice way to socialize with fellow guests and also another opportunity to interact with the crew. We spoke quite a bit with Hotel Director Josef and a couple of fellow guests.
Overall, we thought that the experience was incredible and far exceeded what we imagined between the high level of service, the overall ambience and the cuisine. All of this begins from the moment you are greeted at the entrance of Tastes by the Head Waiter, seated at the table and then throughout the meal. Similar to the other two specialty restaurants there is a Head Waiter, three Senior Waiters and many assistants. They spread out the arrival times of the guests so that they can provide a high level of service to each person. The food was incredible and what we learned from the experience is that it is good to go with other people so that you have the opportunity to try several different tastings.
We recommended that Victor order all of the items for the table and that is what we did. We must have tried ten different items including salads, appetizers, entrees that included seafood, lamb and beef and three different desserts. In several instance two items of each dish were served and two of us would share each of these items.
The food was incredibly tasty and it was nice to just have a tasting or two of each item and to essentially experience food around the world. We thought that the experience was incredible.
Food & Beverage Manager Victor next to Anne Marie and Shore Excursion Manager Daniel next to Daniel.
One of the three Senior Waiters. This Senior Waiter explained each of the courses to us, took our order and came by frequently to check up on us.
This was the Caesar Salad which you ate with your hands. You picked up a salad stalk and dipped it into the dressing. Here the Senior Waiter is explaining to us how to do this and about what we would taste. He also brought to the table another item and was explaining that as well.
This was not a hamburger as we know it. Rather, it was called a Slider which was beef and it included a slice of butter. We normally avoid butter on a roll at dinner, but we had it this time.
One of the desserts we shared.
We dined for almost three hours and it was an incredible evening. It was truly a five star experience.
We didn't go to any of the shows last night since we finished dinner relatively late. Instead we went back to our room and in no time we were asleep.
Keith woke up first and he enjoyed a workout on the Elliptical Machine and that was followed by coffee at the Lido Cafe. After having some coffee herself, Anne Marie walked for an hour before it was time for breakfast.
We enjoyed our usual breakfast of oatmeal for Keith and cereal for Anne Marie and then shortly after breakfast it was time for Keith to take his third spin (indoor cycling class).
While Keith was taking spin which was taught again by Fitness Director, Michael, Anne Marie took her first personal training class with Fitness Director Scott. This is a one on one personal training class with focus on stretching, and both the free standing weights and the weight machines. A few months ago she started personal training at home twice a week as well as Step Classes.
In between activities, each took in views of the Panama Canal which we did throughout the morning and into the afternoon. Our first transit of the Panama Canal was not until 2007 but since that time we have had the privilege of transiting the canal several times with the most recent transit last year. While each one has its similarities we found that we have had some unique experiences because the weather plays a role in the experience as do what you see through your own eyes. We highly recommend viewing the canal from different areas on the ship including the bow, aft, port and starboard sides and also from the higher decks as well as the lower decks.
A view before we arrived to the first lock.
A view of the Captain on the bridge.
This photo should give you a sense of how close the side of the ship is to the wall.
Later in the morning, Keith played Paddle Tennis with some of the guests he has been playing with the past several days.
Around 11:45, it started to rain so we had to stop.
We enjoyed lunch at the Lido Cafe and in the afternoon Anne Marie walked for an hour while Keith played paddle tennis.
Anne Marie continued to work on her needle point while Keith met up with good friend Bob.
This evening we will watch a DVD movie that we took out from the Library and at 8:30 PM, which is on the later side for us, we will attend a birthday dinner at Prego for friend Bob. We are looking forward to this.
Just a reminder that after you post a comment if it includes a question then we will repost your question and your answer on the tabs section titled "Ask Keith and Anne Marie" which can be found towards the top of the home page.
We began last evening by having cocktails at the Captain Giske’s Quarters. A few times a cruise these receptions are scheduled. Usually around 30 to 40 guests are invited and several senior officers and senior crew also attend. Canapés and drinks are served and it is a nice way to socialize with fellow guests and also another opportunity to interact with the crew. We spoke quite a bit with Hotel Director Josef and a couple of fellow guests.
The reception ended at 6:00 PM and at 6:30 PM we had dinner
at Tates which is the casual dining venue on the Lido Deck. As mentioned, this venue received a
makeover during the very recent document and that not only included the venue
itself with a whole new look and all new furniture but the menu is new too.
We dined at Tastes with Food & Beverage Manager Victor,
and Shore Excursion Manager Daniel both of whom we have known for several
years. This was also their first
opportunity to dine at Tastes for dinner since the makeover. It’s nice to dine there with a group
given the new menu.
The menu features an array of items representing cuisine
from around the world and it is served family style and in small portions with
the idea that you can try several different items.
For example, the menu includes a Lebanese Flat Bread,
California Taco, Lamb Kebabs, North African Lamb Dumplings and a Greek Octopus
Salad along with several other items.
The wine selection recognizes the range of cuisine and eight
different wines are served including white, red, rose and even a dessert wine.
This is a copy of the new Tastes Menu and we have also added it to the tab section found on our home page.
This is a copy of the new Tastes Menu and we have also added it to the tab section found on our home page.
Overall, we thought that the experience was incredible and far exceeded what we imagined between the high level of service, the overall ambience and the cuisine. All of this begins from the moment you are greeted at the entrance of Tastes by the Head Waiter, seated at the table and then throughout the meal. Similar to the other two specialty restaurants there is a Head Waiter, three Senior Waiters and many assistants. They spread out the arrival times of the guests so that they can provide a high level of service to each person. The food was incredible and what we learned from the experience is that it is good to go with other people so that you have the opportunity to try several different tastings.
We recommended that Victor order all of the items for the table and that is what we did. We must have tried ten different items including salads, appetizers, entrees that included seafood, lamb and beef and three different desserts. In several instance two items of each dish were served and two of us would share each of these items.
The food was incredibly tasty and it was nice to just have a tasting or two of each item and to essentially experience food around the world. We thought that the experience was incredible.
Food & Beverage Manager Victor next to Anne Marie and Shore Excursion Manager Daniel next to Daniel.
One of the three Senior Waiters. This Senior Waiter explained each of the courses to us, took our order and came by frequently to check up on us.
This was the Caesar Salad which you ate with your hands. You picked up a salad stalk and dipped it into the dressing. Here the Senior Waiter is explaining to us how to do this and about what we would taste. He also brought to the table another item and was explaining that as well.
This was not a hamburger as we know it. Rather, it was called a Slider which was beef and it included a slice of butter. We normally avoid butter on a roll at dinner, but we had it this time.
One of the desserts we shared.
We dined for almost three hours and it was an incredible evening. It was truly a five star experience.
We didn't go to any of the shows last night since we finished dinner relatively late. Instead we went back to our room and in no time we were asleep.
Keith woke up first and he enjoyed a workout on the Elliptical Machine and that was followed by coffee at the Lido Cafe. After having some coffee herself, Anne Marie walked for an hour before it was time for breakfast.
We enjoyed our usual breakfast of oatmeal for Keith and cereal for Anne Marie and then shortly after breakfast it was time for Keith to take his third spin (indoor cycling class).
While Keith was taking spin which was taught again by Fitness Director, Michael, Anne Marie took her first personal training class with Fitness Director Scott. This is a one on one personal training class with focus on stretching, and both the free standing weights and the weight machines. A few months ago she started personal training at home twice a week as well as Step Classes.
In between activities, each took in views of the Panama Canal which we did throughout the morning and into the afternoon. Our first transit of the Panama Canal was not until 2007 but since that time we have had the privilege of transiting the canal several times with the most recent transit last year. While each one has its similarities we found that we have had some unique experiences because the weather plays a role in the experience as do what you see through your own eyes. We highly recommend viewing the canal from different areas on the ship including the bow, aft, port and starboard sides and also from the higher decks as well as the lower decks.
A view before we arrived to the first lock.
A view of the Captain on the bridge.
This photo should give you a sense of how close the side of the ship is to the wall.
Later in the morning, Keith played Paddle Tennis with some of the guests he has been playing with the past several days.
Around 11:45, it started to rain so we had to stop.
We enjoyed lunch at the Lido Cafe and in the afternoon Anne Marie walked for an hour while Keith played paddle tennis.
Anne Marie continued to work on her needle point while Keith met up with good friend Bob.
This evening we will watch a DVD movie that we took out from the Library and at 8:30 PM, which is on the later side for us, we will attend a birthday dinner at Prego for friend Bob. We are looking forward to this.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY............
“A
journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control
it.” – John Steinbeck
Keith & Anne Marie
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