Cruising - Day Two

26 July, 2026

I was the first one up and about in our crew, so I decided to check out the Solarium. I wasn't quite ready for breakfast, but the coffee service was calling, and I must answer. After fixing my coffee I was tempted to grab a bagel and a plate of lox, just for a "little snack," but resisted and opted for an apple danish instead (you know, because it was healthy, thanks to the apples!) and went in search of a table. I located a vacant spot on the port side, with a nice - albeit partially obscured by fog - view. Just as I got in a rhythm of sipping, nibbling, and reading my phone pinged. My sister was up and about, ready for coffee. We met on the esplanade and waited for the others to make an appearance, then headed off to brunch.

After brunch Jeff headed to the casino to see if his luck would continue while the rest of us went to Two70 in search of seats, which we found near a gentleman who was having a heated discussion with his cellular provider over the functioning of his phone aboard the ship. It appeared to be a classic example of entitlement intersects technical ineptitude. He finally abandoned his call, much to our delight, and moved elsewhere - no doubt to find something else that didn't suit him.

Today's wildlife lecture covered the Alaskan bear population. While interesting, it wasn't quite as compelling as the whale lecture. We listened and gleaned information while keeping an eye peeled on the water for whale spouts. We did spot one or two in the distance, but never saw any humps, fins, or flukes.

We enjoyed beverages and snacks throughout the afternoon while reading, writing, knitting, and crocheting - a relaxing and restful afternoon. I did tend to some work details, trying to resolve an issue with an individual who had been caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar.

Early seating dinner was upon us before we knew it, so we dropped all of our "stuff" in the cabins and headed to the main dining room.

Dinner was solid. Good but not particularly memorable, service was great. Then we're back out the door and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the evening. We ended up in the Schooner Bar, listening to some rather inventive performances by someone who once knew a guy who lived next door to a guy who was in a band of some renown.

All in all a nice day to unwind and not think about a whole lot before the next three days of port calls and activity were upon us.

 

Back Up North

13 November, 2024

Today was warm, but gloomy. As a result of the rain and gloom Two70 ended up being a reincarnation of Romper Room. Young kids were bouncing all over the furniture while their parents sat at tables outside the venue and played cards in their blissful ignorance. One of the gentlemen they kept bouncing off of eventually corralled them and escorted them out to their parents, relieving the venue of the annoyance. 

For our part, we were far enough removed from the chaos that our activities were not impacted. With headphones in-place we sat and sipped beverages while we knitted, read, blogged, and investigated potential future travel plans. Our Viking River Cruise last spring was a big hit, so we're giving strong consideration to a Viking Ocean Cruise. (I'd love to take the Viking Adventure cruise to Antarctica, but that's not a viable choice until I win the lottery.)

The Book had several new cast members, so we had the opportunity to watch assorted rehearsals of the production. The energy that we enjoyed when we saw the show earlier in the week was evident in the interaction among the cast, everyone just appeared to be having fun. Lourie had the opportunity to speak to the actor in the lead role and extend her congratulations on a job well done.

We had our last specialty dining experience, dinner at Giovanni's. Unfortunately we couldn't locate our appetites, but that isn't a reflection on the amazing meal we shared. The caprese salad was spectacular again, thanks to amazing sun-dried tomatoes and very nice grape tomatoes (the fresh tomatoes were better than earlier in the week, but still a bit unimpressive; November is a challenging time of year for fresh tomatoes in the northern hemisphere.) We selected  chicken parmigiana for an entree, not earth-shattering for anyone who has been to Italy, but very good by any measure. The evening was made even better thanks to the thoughtful service of Navneet. For dessert we chose the nutella & banana calzone, which never fails to satisfy.

We finished up the evening with a drink in Boleros, mixed perfectly by the cheerful and attentive Tricia.

14 November, 2024

The day before the last day at sea. I wasn't about to miss breakfast (another win with perfectly poached eggs) which was followed by some preliminary packing. With a strong move towards packing things up (mostly dirty laundry and items we knew wouldn't be used for the remainder of the trip) we took a walk around the ship to gather photographs to share with the family in advance of our trip on Odyssey in December, 2026.

After a nice walk in the fresh air, watching some pickleball, and discussing the pros and cons of the arcade with a few youngsters, we returned to the cabin and collected our devices and distractions. With our movement north and cooling temperatures Two70 was becoming increasingly crowded, but we still managed to claim our usual seats for the afternoon. Large groups of children were present again, but with much better behavior than the day prior.

We stopped by NextCruise to get a few questions answered, visited Guest Services for WOW Bands (a good concept, but still needs a lot of work to be viable, IMHO.)  The RoboBar was exceptionally popular this afternoon, with larger crowds than I've ever seen. It was lobster night in the main dining room, and the lobster was spectacular. The last several times we've had lobster on a cruise the meat has been chewy with an excessively, overly-sweet flavor. 

The entertainment tonight was MO5AIC (Mosaic) - a group of five instrument-free performers who use nothing but their voices to make music. We chose seats for the show based on the ease of escape, in case we weren't inclined to stay for the entire show.

Boy, did we ever miss that mark! Their show was one of the best guest performances we've seen on a cruise ship. The arrangements, their vocal range, and the incredible instrumentation they produce from their mouths is nothing short of incredible. They blend musical talent with humor to provide a unique and entertaining production.

15 November, 2024

Our last day at sea. 

Of course there was breakfast in the main dining room, and yes – I had Eggs Benedict, with perfectly poached eggs. Lots of coffee (it was exceptionally good this morning) and some extra bacon to take the edge off of my protein craving.

We put most of the finishing touches on packing and (you guessed it) made our way back to Two70 for a final day of quiet relaxation and doing whatever we wanted to do.  As we sat I did some research on the New York theater schedule for next spring and started working on plans for an anniversary trip. There isn't a traditional gift for the 36th wedding anniversary, so I'm making it theater tickets. I think they are more practical than the rather dull modern gift of bone china.

We distributed a few tips to people who were particularly helpful during the cruise, and had a drink or two. As the afternoon wound down we changed for dinner and stopped in at Boleros for a couple of pre-dinner cocktails. After dinner we were pretty well tapped out, so we returned to the cabin, finished off the remaining bit of packing, and watched a movie before making sure we had an alarm (BLECH!) set for Sunday morning.

Days 10 & 11 - At Sea

12 November, 2024

In stark contrast to what was to come in less than 48 hours, Tuesday dawned clear, calm, and bright. 

You know the score on breakfast by this stage of the game. It had become as much entertainment as obsession, and the headwaiter now waited expectantly for my report on the egg poaching.

We had moved farther into the north Atlantic and the cooler temperatures drove even more people indoors, so Two70 was the most crowded we had seen it yet.

We participated tangentially with trivia, listened to the next installment of the Antarctic adventure, read, had a drink, nibbled on sandwiches, watched a movie, and listened to music.

We strolled around a little, spoke to the representative at NextCruise and checked out the rates and schedule for future "unusual" cruises (we've exhausted the rote Eastern/Western Caribbean itineraries over the years.) The trans-Atlantic experience is proving to be an amazing combination of activity and free time, so options along those lines are particularly appealing. Perhaps we reverse the trip and go back to Europe one spring?

13 November, 2024

Wednesday's weather was overcast, but generally good. Rumors were starting to circulate that the fontal system coming off the east coast of the United States was going to give us a bit of weather over the next couple of days.

After breakfast we were treated to some elevator music of the good variety. It takes up a bit of room, but it's much more entertaining than the piped-in, jazz-like, easy listening, instrumental-ized hits you hear when you're in the dentist chair. You get an actual musician, with a piano, in an elevator. I'm not sure if he plays Aerosmith or not...

The usual routine was punctuated by a cake decorating duel between our Captain, Per Kristopherson, and our Cruise Director, Steve "from Canada" Knisley.

Captain Per could easily work on the entertainment staff of most cruise ships. He's witty and affable, and by all reports from the crew he is also an excellent Captain to work for. He's not just a "handshake captain" who performs the perfunctory social duties required by his office, he makes smalltalk with passengers in the manner of a modern Captain Merrill Stubing.

Steve from Canada is just as exceptional as Captain Per. In all our cruises we've maybe had one CD who could even compare to Steve (from Canada.) Most cruise directors are heavy on being the entertainer, Steve (from Canada) puts the emphasis on taking care of the passengers and making sure they're having a good time. As he walks around in his signature (my term) Chuck Taylors he doesn't hold court or seek attention. He engages with passengers where they are instead of inviting them into his alternate universe. Steve (from Canada) is one of the older CDs we've ever had, and I think his world experience and comfort in his own skin is largely responsible for his down-to-earth persona. Steve (from Canada) gave a presentation covering his career path as well as the origin of his name. I don't know if this was just a "trans-Atlantic" filler presentation, or just one of his "things."

Steve (from Canada) is a Cruise Director that would make me choose one ship over another. I don't know of any stronger endorsement I can offer.

As far as their combined capacity for cake decorating, suffice it to say that neither of them should be considering a career change. However, the house was packed and everyone seemed to have fun (other than the crew left to clean up the mess!)

We booked a return trans-Atlantic for 2026, NY to Barcelona.

Day 9 – To New York! (But first, a detour?)

11 November, 2024

Our first sea day dawned smooth and bright, with nothing on the agenda other than dinner reservations at Wonderland. Continuing my streak for the cruise I had Eggs Benedict yet again, and the kitchen continued to impress. 

We passed the day in our usual fashion, staking out a space in Two70, which was exceptionally popular thanks to the cool temperatures on deck. When Channdy was busy elsewhere a quick trip over to the bar is all it took for Richard to fill our orders. With the café nearby we had plenty of snacks and warm beverages when needed.

Midafternoon the Captain made an announcement that a passenger and a crew member were in need to medical attention and we would be making a slight diversion to the Azores to meet their needs. He assured us that the change in plans would not have an impact on our projected arrival time in Bayonne at the end of the week.

As others have expressed before us, we were a bit reserved about what we would experience at Wonderland. As the name implies, the restaurant is themed on the story of Alice in Wonderland. The hostess wears a dress and styles her hair like Alice and the decor is playful with several nods to the Queen of Hearts. 

The menu is a blank picture frame that reveals its contents with the stroke of a water-dipped paintbrush. The silverware, drink ware, and serving pieces lean towards asymmetry and irregular shapes. While the meal format is nominally a prix-fixe consisting of a selection from each course, the wait staff will discuss your preferences and aversions and bring you a wide selection of  appetizers, with a second round of your favorite selections. After you finish your selected entree they'll deliver the benchmark dessert as well as any other dessert(s) that you may have a taste for.

The concept behind the food presentation is that things are not as they seem. Guacamole served in a cone that appears to be pistachio ice cream. Deviled eggs in a "nest" of noodles, and a red fruit with a green skin that's actually a hollowed-out lime stuffed with seafood salad.

The entrees are equally obfuscated and even more playful, each assembled to tell a story of it's own. As far as the execution of the dishes, we were floored. Before we were even served dessert we were in agreement that Wonderland was definitely an experience we would repeat. Several families were in the restaurant with us with children from about age 8 to 16, and they all appeared to be enjoying themselves. The service was exceptional, as is generally the case in the Royal Caribbean specialty dining venues.

Just before 22:00 the ship came to a stop and we looked out on Ponta Delgada, Azores. After a brief period a tender appeared and came alongside the ship. The patients were transferred after what I would assume to be a standard transfer of care handoff, assessment by the receiving providers, and appropriate immigration processing. Obviously no patient details were communicated, but the following afternoon the Captain did inform us that he had been told both patients were doing well and expected to make full recoveries.

Day 2 – A day on the Mediterranean

4 November, 2024

The first night was a bit rough. For a new ship the Odyssey has the most uncomfortable beds I've ever experienced. I woke feeling as if someone had beat me over the back and shoulders with a bat most of the night.

After prying myself out of bed and getting dressed the day started as every sea day should, with breakfast in the main dining room. I have a habit of starting off each cruise with my benchmark, Eggs Benedict, and this trip was no exception. I was dining alone, but the wait staff was good company, the coffee was tasty, and the eggs were poached to absolute perfection. I've had more Eggs Benedict than I can count, the vast majority of them on cruise ships, and they can be a crapshoot due to all the complicating factors involved in the preparation and serving process. I'm usually satisfied if they hit the table with gummy yolks, happy if they're slightly runny, and ecstatic if they're properly runny. Considering the delicacy of a well-poached egg and the timing and distance involved from kitchen to table it involves some sort of wild calculus and a bit of luck to hit the target. My breakfast was sheer perfection. I savored each bite and longed for more when my plate was empty. It takes every ounce of restraint I have in my body to keep from making a glutton of myself and ordering seconds; it was that good.

After breakfast I made my way up to Deck 5 and to Two70. There were a few people having coffee and pastries, but generally the space was empty. I claimed two chairs and retrieved a cup of coffee. My wife joined me not long after, coffee and pastry in-hand. We sat for several hours reading, listening to music, and enjoying the view. Lunch consisted of soup and sandwiches from Café Two70, and we passed the afternoon relaxing, a welcome respite after an active week in Rome. I may or may not have napped a bit. Oh, who am I kidding, I napped off and on all afternoon. 

We had dinner in the main dining room and our servers, Han and Emmanuel, had our Pellegrino ready and waiting upon our arrival. Their service was spot-on and we enjoyed a nice meal and a chat with the couple at the next table.  After dinner we took a walk around Deck 4, then made our way to Deck 5. The Bionic Bar was seeing some interest from a few people, so  we decided to join in and have it mix a drink for us. The robots are fun to watch and very precise in their actions and measures, but many of the drinks tend to be on the overly sweet end of the scale.

The Schooner Bar, one of our favorite nightspots on any Royal Caribbean ship, was active but not overly crowded. We spent the rest of our evening enjoying a couple of drinks and listening to the piano player. I had arranged a guide in Barcelona the next day, so we made an early night of it. Fortunately our cabin steward located a mattress topper and our second night of sleep was significantly improved over the first night.

Bionic Bar