Panorama: 2nd Sea Day
Good morning! It’s 6am but it’s really like 7 because they gave back the hour they took away from us earlier in the cruise. I’m not a fan of all of the time changes we have on this cruise.
It looks like I have some time to kill before the coffee shop opens.
I was hoping one morning I would be able to quietly get pictures of the family harbor area before anyone was in it. I was able to do that this morning.
This is the special lounge area you have access to if you book a room in the family harbor section of the ship.
And the coffee shop is open!
I’m having my mocha right around the corner in Ocean Plaza.
This is a good spot to sit just before they open the ocean plaza buffet. People keep walking by looking to see if it’s open yet. One guy is determined to be the first. He just stuck his hand in his mouth. And he’ll be first on the tongs.
I’m having my mocha right around the corner in Ocean Plaza.
This is a good spot to sit just before they open the ocean plaza buffet. People keep walking by looking for it. One guy is determined to be the first. He just stuck his hand in his mouth. And he’ll be first on the tongs.
After my coffee I grabbed a bloody mary to take to breakfast.
I stopped by the room and found my laundry has been delivered.
Looks good.
This is what the brunch line looks like on deck 3.
I decided to slip up to deck 4 to see if they have the upper portion of the dining room open.
This is much better.
I picked a bad day to forget my headphones.
Table for two next to me has an annoying kid that comes over. They have a lap baby which is fine. It’s quiet. But the kid that comes over.
what are you going to have?
what are you going to have?
what are you going to have?
are you going to have to the cheese sticks?
what are you going to have?
(to the baby) are you going to stab me with the knife?
are you going to stab me with the knife?
are you going to stab me with the knife?
are you going to stab me with the knife?
I’m going to pick a booger and shove it in (the baby’s) mouth
And it just goes on forever.
Finally! Huervos Rancheros and a side of hash browns to use as a vehicle to get the whataburger spicy ketchup in my mouth.
After breakfast I’m heading to the Havana bar to try the Cuban coffeee.
It’s outrageous you have to wait till 10am to try Cuban coffee but I finally made it.
This is Cafe Con Leche according to the menu and Cafe Leche according to the bartender.
I recognize that guy. For those who don’t know this is off duty cruise director Matt Mitchem. He is scheduled to take over the ship on a temporary basis next month. He’s just here this week getting his turnover early.
They have a birthday party for Dr. Seuss this week every year. I last saw it on the Breeze in 2018. I’m not sure if that is what this is about or if it’s just for the Dr. Seuss story time.
The good bartender is back in the atrium. I just remembered that it’s late enough to get one of the better ones at pig and anchor but I had already ordered this one.
The Dr. Seuss parade is happening. They’ll be doing story time in the main lounge.
This is what that looks like.
I just made dinner reservations for tonight and tomorrow night. I got the last spot at the early Teppanyaki for dinner tomorrow. Tonight I got JiJi Asian for 8pm. I want to watch early comedy tonight and late comedy tomorrow so those times fit perfectly for me.
Then I stopped by guest services to apply a gift card to my account. I think the hotel director is following me around. I was at guest services. He was at guest services. Now I’m at the serenity bar and he’s at the serenity bar.
I got a pina colada.
When I made my reservation at the Teppanyaki, my conversation with the hostess went like this:
Me: I’d like to make a reservation for 5:30 tomorrow. I only need one spot.
Her: do you need two?
Me: I only need one
Her: We have one spot for tomorrow but there’s a $25 cancellation fee
Me: I won’t cancel
Her: okay I will call you tomorrow to confirm because there’s a $25 cancellation fee
Me: I won’t cancel
Her: okay
Her: If you need two spots I will have to move you to 9pm
Me: I just need one
Her: okay
Me: 5:30 tomorrow?
Her: yes
The Blue Iguana Tequila bar has Corona on tap so I stopped there for one,
Back to the main dining room for lunch.
I’m having Steak N’ Eggs this time.
This is what they’re having for lunch in the buffet.
Here is a look at today’s cakes.
The very hairy chest competition is about to happen. I’m going to see if I can get a seat at the red frog rum bar for it.
This is the Miami Vice which is half Pina Colada and half Strawberry Margarita.
The gelato line is getting longer each day. It’s 13 deep today. The choices are coffee or mango. I had coffee earlier in the week so I asked for mango. I think there’s something wrong with the mango machine. I stopped by earlier and she said it would be ready in 10 minutes. Now she’s saying come back in 10-15 minutes. Today may not be a gelato day.
Let’s try cake instead.
This is black forest.
That black forest is really good. Normally when I try cake I only take a couple bites.
The debarkation luggage tags are out. I don’t need to get those since I’m platinum now.
I headed up to the serenity bar for a frozen drink.
I finally got a spot at the alchemy bar. They had a mixology class before they opened and that group had a little after party but they finally cleared out.
Doan made this for me. It has Rum, Peach liqueur, Cranberry, Lyche syrup, and lime juice.
Another from Doan. It has Rum, Pineapple, Spicy chipotle, Soda water, Orange slice.
I’m pretty sure this menu has changed. Purple sunrise I know was created by a mixologist. I saw video of them winning a competition with it…last year I think. That hearts of fire I believe is new as well.
I saw Doan finishing up something that looked pretty good I asked what it was he said “this is non-alcoholic drink for a kid.”
Zoran made this for me.
And another alchemist stepped into the arena named Nicola. He’s the one I expected to be here instead of Anna Maria. I’m guessing he’ll replace her when she leaves on Saturday.
Left to right this is Zoran, Annamaria, Nicola, and Doan.
Annamaria is cranking out some fancy looking layered drinks over there.
They have a trio of horns in the atrium tonight.
I’m going to catch a comedy show so I stopped by the Hero’s bar next door for a Caribbean Wheat.
It’s showtime and we have plenty of space available.
Through the comedian asking questions we found out half of this club is mormons. I should’ve wore my Taysom Hill shirt.
Uhhhhh. This kid across the aisle turns his head my direction and sneezes. It hit me in the neck.
I’m bailing a couple minutes early. I need to shower and get this shirt in the laundry bag. I hope jolly isn’t working on my room.
On the way out I see 10 people lined up to get into the next comedy show, I bet they don’t need to be here this early.
There’s a line to get into the main show as well.
I bet I know what that is. And I’ve never seen a turkey towel animal before. I bet they make a lot of those on Thanksgiving.
I got showered, took a purell bath…are those peroxide wipes safe for the entire body? Anyway…I changed clothes and made it to the comedy club three minutes prior to showtime. It’s not full but close.
After the show I headed to dinner at JiJi Asian.
Compliments of the chef.
This is the duck appetizer.
Shrimp fried rice.
Sweet and sour shrimp
Creme Brulee
This is what they had in the MDR tonight.
Heading back to the cabin. They have the Mr. Rogers movie playing on the big screen.
I made it down to the main lounge for the Celestial Strings show.
Who does this guy think he is blocking my shot? Does he think he runs the place or something? (This is the off duty CD we saw earlier).
The removable seating in this main lounge isn’t popular. But it allows them to change the configuration and in some cases make a portion of the floor a part of the stage like in this show. They can’t do this show on a ship that isn’t Vista class.
I’m off to bed. Tomorrow is the last sea day.
