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Tom and
Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Age: 75
Occupation: Retired Restauranteur
Number of Cruises: 27
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship: Norwegian Sun
Departure Date: September 28, 2002
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
[Our review itself is 15 pages... followed by our... ‘Suggestions That Could
Enhance Your Cruise’ & ‘Loose Ends & Random Thoughts’ segments. We suggest it
would be more enjoyable if you printed our review... then you can get
comfortable in your favorite chair and come with us as we sail on the Norwegian
Sun to the Western Caribbean.]
After returning from our recovery cruise, Mary & I decided we wanted to book a
cruise for the latter part of September or early October. I researched the ships
that were sailing the Caribbean itineraries and found we had sailed on most of
them. I gave our agent Bob Zweig a call to see if he had any suggestions. We
discussed our options and Bob surprised me by suggesting the Norwegian Sun. I
say surprised because Bob knew that we liked the cruise line’s traditional
dinning, you know, same time, same place, same servers. He said, “I know your
preference for traditional dinning, but you owe it to yourself and to your
readers that you give Freestyle Cruising a try.” He went on to say that he
thought that NCL had a good product and he predicted that their new dinning
concept and their featuring of casual attire, were the wave of the future for
the cruise industry. How could I answer that veiled challenge in any other way
then to say... book us.
During the weeks leading up to our departure date, we were somewhat apprehensive
but also excited. We were apprehensive because we were departing from our norm
and excited because we were on the verge of having a new experience, a new
concept in dinning. We decided we would approach our cruise with an open mind
and try as many of the restaurants we could fit into our schedule. But please
remember what we tell you is only our opinion, which might be very different
from yours. Take everything we say with a grain of salt ... But before we tell
you our cruise experience, we are going to tell you something about ourselves
and what you can expect from our review.
After being retired twenty three years and having traveled extensively, we took
our first cruise six years ago and became instantly addicted. If you have read
any of our reviews, you know we refer to our cruises as ‘Honeymoons.’ Our new
readers may wonder why, so I will repeat what we say in every one of our
reviews. Mary & I can’t think of a more romantic, intimate way of spending
quality time with the one you love then when cruising. Our cruise on the
Norwegian Sun is our twenty seventh ‘Honeymoon. If you haven’t cruised, we
strongly suggest you should give it some thought. We have found that it has
added a completely new dimension to our life.
Our regular readers know what we write is very different from most reviews. We
feel a deep responsibility to our readers to write thorough, comprehensive
reviews, that will help them decide if this is the ship they might like to chose
for a future cruise. But it isn’t unusual for us to digress and tell some
stories of a personal nature that have made our latter years the best years of
our life. I think I should also advise you that we often write about the things
we do to keep the romantic fires burning and other things of a sentimental
nature. If you would rather not read about this aspect of our life, it probably
would be best if you didn’t read our review.
We also write about the Wimpy persona Tom has assumed in his latter years that
Mary finds so appealing. Doing all those little Wimpy things women love men to
do, was quite a stretch for Tom. Tom was one of those macho Italian kids from
Brooklyn, who did things his way. Dropping that macho image wasn’t easy, but
leave it to Mary, with her loving ways and her endless patience, she made macho
man see the benefits of doing those lovely little wimpy things, that Macho men
don’t do. Wimpy finally got the message in his latter years, when he realized
Mary gave him a lot more reason to smile when he assumed his Wimpy persona, than
when he was Macho man. Needless to say, Wimpy has done a lot of smiling in his
latter years but never more than when he’s on a cruise with Mary... you will
hear more about Wimpy and his lady Mary later on... but for now... it’s time to
get on with our review.
What we do to Expedite the Reading of our Review:
We have consolidated our ‘Suggestions How You Could Enhance Your Cruise,” that
appear in all our reviews, in a paragraph at the end of our review. That
paragraph includes—‘Pre Cruise Things to do’ — ‘Tipping Suggestions’ — ‘Magic of
the $2 Bill’ — ‘The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important’ — ‘Should You buy
Cruise Insurance?’ — ‘URL’s of informative Cruise Web Sites’ - -‘All Ships of a
Cruise Line Are Not the Same’—‘Writing a Review.’ (We have also added new URL’s)
Be sure to read the ‘Loose Ends & Random Thoughts’ section, [LR] at the end of
our review, it has become quite a popular feature with our readers.
These are Some of the Things You Will be Reading About in Our Review:
.......Our Overall Thoughts on Freestyle Cruising:
.......Wimpy Never Misses a Chance to Woe Mary:
.......When a Well Known Food Critique Had One Too Many:
.......Critiques of the Restaurants we Attended:
.......What Happens When a Hurricane is in The Path of Your Cruise Ship:
.......It’s Never to Soon to Start Collecting Memories:
.......Cozumel Mini Golf–A One of a Kind Mini Golf Course
.......How You Can Get a Free Margarita at “Pancho’s Backyard” in Cozumel:
.......Tom Brokaw wrote about us in his book, “The Greatest Generation.”
.......One of The Best Snorkeling Sites on The Web: [LR]
.......Suggestions That Could Enhance Your Cruise:
.......The Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise: [LR] [ http://www.sobrietyatsea.com/pages/1/index.htm
]
.......Tom & Mary’s ‘Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment’ [LR]
.......How to Get the Best Price When Booking a Cruise: [LR]
.......There is a Distinct Possibility You Will Live to be a Hundred: [LR]
.......Our Favorite Spiritual Meditation: [LR]
Embarkation:
We reside in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and only cruise from the ports we can
drive too. We got tired of being treated like cattle and gave up flying long
before 9-11. During our drive to port, my Mary assumes the position of chief
navigator and is also in charge of the music department. She makes sure I’m
going in the right direction and she plays the kind of music that she knows will
hasten macho man’s transformation to his more appealing Wimpy persona. It isn’t
long after listening to the amorous tones of his favorite Latin tenor Pedro
Vargas, Wimpy reaches over and takes Mary’s hand and in a very soft, quiet,
sensuous voice, tells her why he thinks she’s such a special lady. Mary realizes
that Pedro has done his job well and that Wimpy is fast approaching his full
cruise mode. Mary has to be careful what she says at a time like this, because
on a couple occasions Tom almost over shot his mark and was heading for the
Keys. She got us pointed in the right direction and it wasn’t long before we
arrived at the terminal. We were about to begin our 27th ‘Honeymoon.’
We arrived at the terminal and dropped off our luggage. We were asked to produce
our ticket, a passport or birth certificate and a photo ID before they loaded
our luggage. I parked our car in the garage across the street from the terminal,
[$10 a day], and walked back to meet Mary. Upon entering the terminal we
were again asked for a photo ID. After our carry-on luggage went through the
scanning machine, we went to the check in counter. We had entered the terminal
at 12:00 and we boarded at 12:45 and once again we were asked to produce our
room key and a photo ID.
Our Thoughts on Freestyle Cruising:
Before we write one word about our cruise, let me emphatically state that I
agree with Bob Zweig, that most elements of Freestyle cruising are definitely
the wave of the future. There are a great many people that like the concept of
not having to eat at a designated time. They like the idea of being able to
adjust the times they will eat according to what they have scheduled for the
day. If they come back from an excursion or a visit to town, they can take a nap
and not worry about having to rush to dinner. Instead of Mom & Dad having a tug
of war with the kids, trying to get them ready for the early seating, families
can go to dinner when everyone is ready. You don’t have to dine in any of the
alternative restaurants. If you like the traditional way of dining, you can
still dine in the same place, at the same time, at the same table, with the same
servers. You can have it either way.
Another aspect of Freestyle cruising that will be very popular with people, is
the casual dress code. NCL likes to say that “Resort Casual” is as dressy as
you’ll will ever have to get and is appropriate morning, noon and night. What
they mean by resort casual is slacks and a collared shirt for men, and slacks,
skirt and blouse or dress for women. On seven day cruises they have one formal
night and they have designated an area in one of the main dining rooms where the
folks who are in formal attire can dine together. In the six years we have been
cruising, we have seen a noticeable trend toward casual dress. It seems our
society doesn’t want to make the effort to get dressed up. The cruise lines have
picked up on this and are relaxing their dress code.
Freestyle Cruising also allows you too chose when to dine, where you dine and
with whom you dine. This is another aspect that will appeal to many cruisers. On
the Sun we had the choice of going to nine different restaurants. The
restaurants are open from 5:30 until midnight, with seating available until 10
p.m.. There is an extra charge in three of the restaurants. We dined in four of
the alternative restaurants. Le Bistro, Il Adagio, East meets West and Pacific
Heights. We will give you a full report later on in our review.
Our Opinion--For What its Worth:
We believe that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something
totally different. Please keep this in mind as you read our review. We are
writing from our perspective which might be entirely different from yours. There
is no doubt that the Norwegian Cruise Line has come up with an innovative style
of cruising that appeals to many people. Although Freestyle cruising might be
the wave of the future for the cruise industry, with cruisers liking the idea of
being able to dine when they want and not having to dress up, we are not one of
them. We are one of the traditionalists who like to dine at the same time, at
the same place, at the same table, with the same servers for the entire cruise.
We don’t care for the impersonal nature of having tips added to our bill and our
servers receiving our gratuities from the cruise line. We like to pre tip our
servers, plus handing them an additional stipend at the end of the cruise. We
enjoy seeing the expression of appreciation on our servers faces, when I hand
them our ‘Thank You’ card with the money inside. [Read our tipping suggestion].
We live in Florida and are tired of casual dress. We are not snobs but we do
think there is a time and a place to be dressed appropriately. All too often, we
have experienced getting all dressed up and going to a fine restaurant and
having someone seated next to us who is dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. We
look forward to our cruises and the chance to get all dressed up and to be among
people who feel the same way. We love formal nights. Mary looks great in
whatever she wears but she has a special radiance about her when she slips into
an evening gown. We find that there is something very special about being on a
dance floor, with your loved one in your arms, dancing among other couples who
are also dressed in their finest. We find our formal evenings are exhilarating,
exciting and very romantic. Casual dress may be the wave of the future in
cruising, but if and when it occurs, cruising will have lost a great deal of its
appeal for us... now that we have voiced our opinion of this new style of
cruising... we are going to give you a description of our balcony cabin and what
Wimpy does to make it into the proverbial ‘Garden of Eden.’
Our Balcony Cabin–8032
The cabin overall was very nice. It was done in soft muted colors and had a
comfortable feel about it. We had a queen size bed and a full sofa [bed] with a
small table. There was a refrigerator in the desk area and to the credit of NCL,
it wasn’t packed with items for sale. We drink a lot of water. We use the
bottled water the first day, then refill the empty bottle with the ship’s water,
[which to our taste is just as good as the bottled water] and keep it in the
refrigerator. The shelving, draw space and closet was adequate and there were
two robes hanging in the closet, for our use. The balcony was very nice. It was
furnished with two chairs and a table and afforded us a great deal of privacy.
It also was great for drying our swim gear when we came back from the pool. Our
luggage arrived within an hour and it fit nicely under the bed.
The bathroom was a typical cruise bathroom, small but adequate. The shower was
oval with one of those shower curtains that wants to caress your body. The hot &
cold water controls were the best we have seen. I didn’t scald myself, not even
once. We advise you to bring a bar of soap. Both by the sink and in the shower
they have liquid soap dispensers. I can understand having hair lotion in a
dispenser in the shower but having liquid soap just doesn’t work very well.
Regardless how Wimpy finds a cabin, he doesn’t consider it complete, without the
addition of his cabin ‘Enchancers’.... two Wizard scented plugin ... an
extension cord with a three-outlet connection ... a night light.... and a can of
air freshener for the bathroom. The first order of business for Wimpy when he
enters a cabin is to insert the Gardenia scented plugin... then it isn’t very
long before we being to detect the sweet aroma of Gardenias wafting through the
cabin. Mary watches Wimpy as he stretches out on the bed and she can see a big
smile spread across his face as if to say, my work is done. Although Mary has
witnessed this many times, it never ceases to amaze her, that Wimpy has done it
once again. As if by magic... he again has transformed an ordinary cabin into
the proverbial Garden of Eden... the ideal setting for our 27th ‘Honeymoon.’
Caribbean... here we come!
We must comment on our cabin attendants. We only saw them twice during the
entire cruise, but our cabin was kept immaculate and all our needs taken care
of. They did an excellent job and we commend them.... and now for our first
breakfast aboard the Sun.
The Garden Café and How We Got Started on the Wrong Track:
The Garden Café is done in very good taste. The furnishings and the over all
decor is very attractive. The first day we had breakfast in this area an
incident occurred that pretty much set the tone of our cruise. We had just
started through the buffet line and I stopped and had some scrambled eggs put on
my plate. Then I came to the area where they had their bread display and I asked
the server behind the counter for some rye toast... hold on to your hat... your
not going to believe what I’m about to tell you... the server said ”We don’t
serve toast up here, you have to go to the main dining room for that.” I thought
I must have misunderstood him... but I didn’t. You can’t get a slice of
toast in the breakfast area, you have to go to the main dining room and have
breakfast there if you want toast... I then said to the server, if you don’t
have toast... let me have a bagel... now for our second surprise... He said,
“I’m sorry but we don’t have bagels... It is inconceivable to me not to be able
to get toast or bagels in a breakfast area. I can’t understand how management
could overlook something as important as this. As you can well imagine, that was
our last breakfast in the Garden Café. We had breakfast in the main dining room
for the remainder of the cruise.
The food lines of the Garden Café were set up in a very unusual way. When we had
our tray in hand and went along the line to the various stations, they had
servers behind the counters that you had to tell them what you wanted. The first
problem we encountered was the top shelf was in our sight line and when you
spoke to the server, we both had to bend way over to make eye contact so you
could tell them what we wanted. And this went on at every station. The second
problem with this is they don’t know how much you want of an item. I know
management must think they are giving extra service by doing this, but it would
be much better if they let the guests have the serving spoons in their hands so
they could take what they wanted. This was particularly true when putting
together a salad. After having your plate filled with lettuce, you had to tell
the servers in each section every item that you wanted in the salad and they
spooned it out to you. It never failed... it was either too much... or too
little. Something else we missed was the fact that after the first day of our
cruise they didn’t have a carving station or a sandwich station. We didn’t have
a choice of where to eat on port days because the main dining room was closed.
On one of the days the main dining room was closed, we had lunch with a charming
couple from Miami, Rich and Dorianne in the Garden Cafe. It wasn’t long before
we found they felt the same way about the operation; that it left a lot to be
desired. We found the conditions were the same in the Great Outdoor Grill,
except it was less busy and it had a nice view of the ocean... I don’t think
anything more needs to be said, we had the remainder of our breakfasts and our
lunches, when possible, in the main dining room. We were also disappointed that
they didn’t have an afternoon tea, one of Mary’s favorite things to do.
The service in the main dining room for breakfast and lunch was very nice. The
staff was very pleasant and very accommodating. They went out of their way to
please us. We took special notice of how attractive and well groomed the young
servers were. Mary commented that the young ladies looked like they had just had
their hair set and had just finished a course on how to apply cosmetics. It was
pleasure to walk into the dining room and have these attractive young ladies
serve us... before we tell you about our visit to the alternative restaurants...
we are going to digress for a moment and tell you about an amusing incident that
occurred when we were operating our restaurant.
A Short Story Before We Tell You of Our Dining experience:
We think you will enjoy this story about a leading L.I. newspaper that sent
their very popular food critic to our restaurant to write an article on, ‘Lunch
at Glynn’s.’ When she arrived our Maitre`d escorted her to one of our prime
tables. I went to her table and introduced myself...had the usual make sure you
charm her conversation... and then I asked her if she would care for a cocktail
before lunch. She looked at me coyly and asked, “Do you have a special cocktail
that you’re known for.” It so happened that we served a variation of two of the
classic standard cocktails, the Martini and the Manhattan. We called them, Tom’s
Martini and Tom’s Manhattan, served in a large hand blown, stemmed tulip glass.
The Martini was made in the usual way but with a few subtle differences I
borrowed from the English, who used orange bitters in most of their gin drinks.
When making Tom’s Martini we used the usual ingredients then added two or three
drops of the cordial, Orange Curacao. When it was stirred and poured, our
bartenders would cut a very thin slice of orange...and then rub it around the
rim of the class, twist it and drop it in the drink. When the glass was put to
the lips, the orange fragrance was tasted and at the same time inhaled from the
outer rim. That and the mixture being softened by the Orange Curacao completed
the transformation. The effect was quite remarkable. The Orange Curacao and the
orange slice took away the usual harshness of the Martini and gave it the taste
of a much milder drink. Our food critic didn’t realize the potency of the drink
and decided to have another one. I think you might have already guessed what
happened. She got so smashed she not only couldn’t eat her lunch, but I had to
have one of our waiters drive her home. To our surprise, two days later her
column appeared in the paper as usual. It was a very thorough and extensive
critique of her phantom lunch at Glynn’s Inn and she gave us a four spoon
rating, the highest of her awards.
I was a bad boy when I was young and I gave up drinking. It has been thirty-six
years since I’ve had a drink, so you can be assured this will not be a phantom
report but a first hand, thoughtful account of our dining experience. We want to
remind you once more, what you read is only our opinion which might be very
different from yours.
Three Restaurants Have a Cover Charge:
Le Bistro... Il Adagio and East Meets West... have a $10 cover charge. If you
make a reservation at East Meets West from 5:30 - 6:00 the cover charge is
reduced to $5. There is an additional charge in some of the restaurants for some
menu items.
We Didn’t Have Time to dine at:
Ginza, a Japanese restaurant complex that
features sushi, a teppanyaki room and Asian dishes. The teppanyaki room is like
the Beninhana restaurants we are accustomed too. We heard a lot of good reports
about this restaurant. It seemed to be the favorite of all the alternative
restaurants.
Las Ramblas Tapas Bar & Restaurant serves hot & cold tapas from around the
world. Whatever tapas may be.
Le Bistro:
On the Formal night of our cruise, we had the pleasure of dining with the Hotel
Director, Douglas Hernandez and the Concierge Julie Sedgwick. They were very
friendly and most hospitable.
Dining at Le Bistro reminded us of one of our trips to Paris, when we had dinner
in a charming café on the Champs Elysees. It’s a delightful setting with a very
warm, romantic atmosphere. Douglas and Julie made us feel very comfortable and
we engaged in a lively conversation. Douglas asked about our children and we
mentioned that we had a daughter who was married to a Turkish boy and has lived
in Istanbul for the past twenty-two years. We also told him we liked the way
they serve dinner. When our son-in-law took us to a restaurant, we were amazed
and delighted the way food was presented. Instead of having a single entree like
we do in the states, the Turkish people fill the table with a wide variety of
dishes of everything imaginable and everyone takes a little of this and a little
of that. When Douglas heard this, he said, “We feature a dish that I think you
would like. It’s called the Fire Star and it can be ordered for two, three or
four. Will you share it with me?” How could I refuse? My petite lady has a
petite appetite. She ordered the surf and turf, minus the turf. [which is an
additional charge of $7.50 above the $10 cover charge] Douglas was sitting
opposite me and when our dinner was served, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
As you can see by the pictures, the Fire Star is a most unusual dish. Hanging
from a metal holder is an elongated bell with spikes protruding from the sides.
On those spikes are pieces of grilled Beef Tenderloin, Lamb Medallions, Chicken
Breast Fillet, Veal Tenderloin, Pork Medallions, Black Tiger Shrimp and Sea
Scallops. On the wooden platform underneath the spiked morsels of meat and
seafood is a wooden board with a center bowl of rice covered with Onion rings
and a tripod of Asparagus spears. Around the bowl were five dishes with various
dips for the meat and seafood. The Maitre`d gave us pincers to take the grilled
items from the spikes. The idea was to select what grilled item you wanted to
eat... take it from the spike with your pincers and run it through one of the
dips. It was a new dining experience for me and I very much enjoyed the variety
of meats and seafood. Mary enjoyed her lobster tails. The food was excellent and
the company even better. We had a delightful evening with Douglas and Julie at
Le Bistro... before we tell you about the other restaurants, I want to tell you
how Wimpy surprised Mary, once again.
Wimpy Never Misses an Opportunity to Woe Mary:
Our regular readers know of Wimpy’s use of blank business cards to write little
notes of endearment that he surprises Mary with, when they cruise. Like one
Valentines cruise, when he made up a dozen cards with love notes on them which
he placed in different places in their cabin and in the drawers where she kept
her clothes. And another time when he made up the same type cards, one for every
night, that he would hand her just before she took her first sip of wine before
dinner. Well, Wimpy wanted to surprise Mary again and this is what he came up
with. While at home, knowing they would be dining at different ethnic
restaurants, he thought it would be nice if he could give Mary a love note
written in the language of the restaurant they were dinning at. He wrote a love
note for each of the restaurants they would attend and then looked up the
Language Dictionary on the web, http://www.screensaverhome.com/onldict/ita.html
where he learned how those words were spelled in that language... He made a card
for the Bistro in French, the Il Adagio in Italian, and etc. and under the note
was written... Turn over for English translation... When turned over, the same
loving phrase was spelled out in English. Wimpy eagerly looked forward to each
evening... for that special moment when he would give Mary her little love note.
Then Wimpy would sit back in his chair and watch Mary as a beautiful smile
spread across her face. At times like this I feel Mary is smiling at me with
heart. Needless to say, these were very special moments for us... Wonderful
moments that we will add to our growing collection of memories. It took quite
awhile for Macho man to get the message, but in the latter years of my life, I
learned that the more I did the little things that my Mary loves me to do... the
happier and more fulfilled I feel... I think I’ve told you about all I want
to... about our romantic interlude.. .come join us as we dine at Il Adagio...
Il Adagio:
As you can see by the picture, this is a very elegant dining room. We had
requested and were seated on one of the large banquets. The banquets run along
one wall facing large windows that give a spectacular view of the sea.
Our dinner was rather disappointing. We ordered Scampi for our main course and
it was prepared in a very unusual way. When the dish was brought to our table,
it was served on a round plate with a mound of rice in the center, with the
shrimp encircling the base, surrounded by cooked cloves of garlic In the many
Italian restaurants we have frequented, we have never seen Scampi served with
rice. The usual way Scampi is prepared, is to broil the shrimp in a melted
butter garlic sauce, with a little white wine and chopped parsley, in a ramekin.
Although there were large cloves of garlic placed around the side of the dish,
the shrimp were bland and we couldn’t detect any garlic flavor. It appeared that
the garlic was used as a garnish... This restaurant is beautifully appointed,
has a very romantic atmosphere and is the ideal setting for an Italian
restaurant, but in our opinion, it needs much closer attention paid to the
preparation of the menu... now come with us as we go to the other side of the
world... where the East Meets West.
East Meets West:
This is a very attractive restaurant with the decor leaning more toward the East
than the West. There was a lobster tank, without any lobsters, in the center of
this well appointed room. This was a difficult restaurant for us to critique,
being we are not accustomed to many of the Asian entrees on the menu. After
Mary’s glass of Chardonay was brought to the table, and before we ordered, our
server Sheila placed before us a tiny dish with some green strands of what
looked like grass clippings. Our waitress Sheila informed us it was Sea Grass,
compliments of the chef. [I realize ordering something like this might be
considered chic by the Baby boomer generation, but we of the older generation
still prefer a shrimp cocktail to eating grass, regardless of the name that is
attached to it.] We later learned that this was considered an Asian delicacy. I
don’t doubt that but that isn’t enough to persuade us to ever try it again. Mary
and I looked at the items on the menu and decided to play it safe by ordering
Moroccan Spiced Rack of Lamb. Rack of Lamb is one of our favorites and we
weren’t disappointed. It was presented in a very appealing way and our Rack of
Lamb was cooked to perfection. The chops had light pink centers just the way
Mary likes it. When we inquired about dessert, Sheila our server, asked us if we
liked cheese cake. She said they had a very special chocolate Cheese cake that
she thought we would enjoy. We both ordered the cheese cake and anxiously waited
for it to be served. What we had in mind and what we were served, was two
different things. Sheila came to our table with two plates with two darkly
encrusted wedges of something, with the wide end on the plate and the tip
standing straight up. It looked like she was presenting us with two volcanoes
ready to erupt. I asked Sheila if she made a mistake and she smiled and said,
“No, this is your chocolate cheesecake.” We have had cheese cake starting with
Lindy’s in New York all the way to Lucere’s in Paris and we have never seen or
tasted anything like this. What it was, was some sort of dark cake batter in the
interior, without the slightest taste of cheese and the dark coating on the
outside was from deep frying them. Now this may very well be another Asian
delicacy, but if you are from our era and you dine in the East Meets West, we
suggest you try a different dessert. Other than that, we enjoyed our visit to
East Meets West. We met a very nice couple who sat next to us, Lou & Candace.
Later in the cruise met them again when we were having lunch at Pancho’s
Backyard in Cozumel.
Sheila and her two assistants that attended to our table were very professional
and it was pleasure to have them serve us. They went out of their way to make
our visit to East Meets West something special. Management should take notice of
the wonderful way in which they represent NCL.... now that you have learned a
little bit about East Meets West... come with us as we dine at the Pacific
Heights.
Pacific Heights:
We went to this restaurant with a very nice couple we met on our cruise, Natalie
and Howard from West Palm Beach. It is a very attractive dining room on the
eleventh deck of the Sun. I must say, this is a restaurant that totally confused
us. We don’t quite understand the reasoning that went into the preparation of
the menu for Pacific Heights. The restaurant is billed as a restaurant that
features a range of healthy living, spa and fitness items, along with Cooking
Light, items that are low in Cholesterol and Fat.
When we were seated and handed a menu, I was, to say the least, surprised that
four of the first five items on the menu were; Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and
Gravy... Grilled Pork Chops... Old Fashioned Spaghetti & Meat Balls and
Calzone’s with Spicy Sausage & Bell Peppers. I could be mistaken, but for some
reason, these items strike me as being out of place on a health food menu.
Maybe, I missed their point. If anyone reading this review could enlighten me, I
would like to hear from you. Mary & I are Pasta lovers, so we both ordered the
Old Fashioned Spaghetti & Meat Balls. We enjoyed our dinner but my evening ended
by being reprimanded by Mary. Can you believe, my lovely Mary scolded me for
getting four spots of Spaghetti sauce on my good silk shirt... this reminded me
of a similar incident that occurred when I was making Spaghetti Sauce at home
while Mary was shopping. I call her the kitchen detective... she can come home
and tell me tell me every single thing I did while she was gone. When she came
home from shopping the day I was making sauce... she did her usual kitchen
inspection and she was mad at me... just because I got a few spots of spaghetti
sauce on our kitchen ceiling... we know you will be very interested in knowing
what happens when a major hurricane is in the path of your cruise ship.
What happens When a Hurricane is in The Path of Your Cruise Ship:
We cruise a least once a year in hurricane season and we have always wondered
what do the cruise ships do when a hurricane is in the vicinity of where there
going. Well we finally found out, because when we left port on September 28th,
hurricane Lili was right smack in the middle of where we were heading.
Captain Vorren made an announcement every morning, telling us the strength of
the storm, where it was and what he was doing to avoid it. I know Mary was
nervous because she doesn’t like it when the seas act up. But Captain Vorren did
a very good job of putting everyone at ease and alleviating their fears. Being
Lili was in the direct path of where we were heading and was close to the
initial ports on our itinerary, he made a decision to circumvent the area of the
storm, go to the other side of Cuba and reverse our itinerary. Captain Vorren’s
good decisions made it possible for us to reach every port on our itinerary. We
were one of the few ships that got to Cozumel that week. The merchants were
disappointed because they lost a lot of business when four of the cruise ships
never made it to Cozumel. They didn’t have a Captain Vorren and they had their
port days turned into sea days.
Our personal opinion; don’t be afraid of sailing during hurricane season. There
is little chance that you will be confronted with a hurricane and if you are,
these Captains are prepared to divert from their intended course and chose a
route that will assure you a safe journey. The Captains are concerned about your
safety and also have a keen interest in protecting the ½ billion dollar vessel
under their command... now we are going to tell you about the Four Seasons and
the Seven Seas dinning rooms.
The Main dining Rooms:
We had dinner in the Four Seasons the first night and the last two nights we had
dinner in the Four Seasons & the Seven Seas dinning rooms. On other cruises if
we couldn’t find something on the menu, we could always rely on the three items
that you could have every evening... N. Y. Strip steak... Breast of Chicken and
Salmon. In the two main dining rooms there was only one item on the menu that
you could order if you didn’t care for the menu choices. That was Grilled
Chicken, not one of our favorite dishes. The last evening we had dinner in the
Four Seasons. I was looking over the menu deciding what I wanted to order when I
noticed that under appetizers they listed a baked potato. I thought it was a
mistake but sure enough, a member of our party ordered it and it was a baked
potato, all by itself, on a plate. This was a first for me. I looked at the
entree portion of the menu and I saw one of the entrees was Salmon, one of my
very favorite dishes. The word Salmon jumped off the menu at me and I didn’t
hesitate to order it. When we dined in the Four Seasons on the first night of
our cruise, I also ordered Salmon and it was served over mashed potatoes, which
I found rather unusual. This time, it was even more unusual, the Salmon I
ordered was served on top of a plate of Spaghetti... I kid you not, it is a
fact. I think NCL should give some serious thought to making some changes to
their menu and the preparation of their food. Their whole idea of Freestyle
Cruising is too good an idea to be sidetracked by their kitchen and dining room
operations... after reading our negative comments... we think it’s time for us
to explain ourselves and for you to understand where were coming from.
Making Negative Comments:
Before we go any further, I think we should tell you, we find it very unpleasant
and disturbing having to make these negative comments. Mary & I are a loving
couple with a positive outlook on life and we don’t look to find fault. In fact,
we go out of our way to look for reasons to compliment people for whatever they
do. We do this in our every day life and especially when we are on a cruise.
That is why we have devised the many special things that we do, that we have
shared with you, to show the servers and crew members our gratitude and
appreciation for their service. Although it is always distasteful for us to
write the negative, we feel we owe it to those who read our reviews to give them
our honest opinion as we see it. We’re sure there will be a number of people who
were on this same cruise that will see it in a completely different way. That is
why we wrote in the beginning of this review that two people can look at the
exact same thing and see something totally different. This review is our account
of what we experienced.... I think this is a good time to have a little
diversion... after we tell you about an important aspect of our life.... we will
take you on a visit to the other dining venues.
It’s Never to Soon to Start Collecting Memories: (Be patient. It’s a
little wordy but I think you will enjoy our thoughts and maybe you would like to
do it.)
During our latter years, Mary & I made a conscious decision to spend the
remainder of our life collecting memories. We were inspired by a meditation that
J. R. Miller wrote about the famed theologian and world traveler, Reinhold
Niebuhr. [The same man that wrote the Serenity Prayer] J. R. Miller wrote:
Niebuhr, the theologian and distinguished traveler, became blind in his old age.
But, having traversed many lands, amid the fairest and loveliest scenes of the
world, he had stored away in his memory countless pictures of landscapes,
mountain-scenery, vales of rare beauty and great and splendid cities. Then, as
he lay upon his bed or reposed on his easy-chair, his face would often brighten
into a rich glow, as if some inner light was shining through. He was pondering
once more some splendid scene he had looked upon in the sunny Orient. The
chamber-walls of his memory were hung all over with pictures which filled his
darkened years with joy and beauty. It mattered not to him that the light had
gone out, leaving thick gloom all about him. His heart was his world, and there
was no darkness there. No putting out of sun or star could obscure the pictures
that hung in that sacred house of his soul.
In a far truer sense than many of us are aware our hearts make our world for us.
The things we behold are but the shadows of the things that are in us. If we
have bright pictures in our heart, the whole world, wherever we go or wherever
we are, will be a picture-gallery.
This beautiful meditation had a powerful effect on Mary & I. We realized what
Miller said about Niebuhr was what we would like to have happen when the
inevitable occurs. We decided we would make a conscious effort to spend the rest
of our life collecting memories. Memories we could hang on the chamber-walls of
our hearts, a picture gallery of all the beautiful moments we have shared. We
wanted to do as Niebuhr did, we wanted to make our hearts our world where there
would be no darkness.
One night Mary & I were reclining in our den and we decided we would look at
some of our many picture albums. Browsing the pages brought back a lot of
wonderful memories. Memories of our children’s childhood, friends who were an
important part of our life but due to relocating and not seeing them for many
years, we were no longer in contact with them. Experiencing the joy and
exhilaration we felt as we looked at their pictures and the reminiscing that
went along with it, I suddenly had an inspired thought. If looking at these
pictures could give us so much pleasure, how nice it would be if we could go
through our albums more often. But as most of you know, that isn’t very
practical. I thought, why not make a valance of framed 8x10 pictures of our
loved ones and friends that would circle the entire ceiling area of our den. As
I was telling Mary about my brainstorm, I saw her eyes begin sparkle and her
face was aglow and I knew I had her full approval, it was a go! We were going to
make a picture gallery of memories in our den.
Our den is like a mini theater. On the wall across from our double love seat
recliner, we have a seventy inch television, surrounded with bookcases. On the
left is a full wall of bookcases and shelving and on the right side of our den
is an eight-foot entrance, with a wall on both side that we hung collages of our
children and their families. When our project was completed, wherever we looked
in our den, we could see more than one hundred photos of loved ones and friends.
I know it’s hard to envision so we took some pictures for you to see.
Some nights when I am sitting in my recliner, looking at the pictures, as I go
from one to another I find myself recalling what happened when the picture was
taking or some special remembrance about that person. Our cruise pictures fill
our bookcase shelves. As I go from one to another, I am reminded of some of the
wonderful moments Wimpy shared with Mary. We also made collages of each of the
children and their families and have them hanging in the wall areas. Sitting in
our den surrounded with these beautiful pictures of our loved ones and friends,
brings our memories to life on a daily basis. The picture galleries in our
hearts are overflowing with treasured works of art. Those work of arts I’m
speaking of... are our loved ones... our friends. and my sweetheart Mary.
Soon after we completed our picture valance, we read a meditation by Fr. John
Powell from his book, ‘Seasons of the Heart,’ which validated and confirmed our
thinking and made what we did even more meaningful. He wrote; People are made of
memories. Half of what we are is determined by our memories. The things that
happen today in our families are the memories of tomorrow. Some memories happen,
but other memories must be planned. Yes, some memories happen: like the first
day at school, various things that are just part of daily life. But other
memories have to be planned: like Christmases and outings and birthdays. I think
it is really important to plan things because they keep playing as memories in
one’s mind and heart always. Half of what we are is indeed determined by the
memories we have inside of us.
[If you would like the details of how we did our picture valance, send us an
e-mail.]... now we are going to walk you around the pool area and then we will
tell you about the entertainment.
The Pool Area:
The pool area is very nice. It has two swimming pools, separated by four
Jacuzzi’s. At one end of the pool is a bar the full width of the deck and at the
other end is a bandstand, which is the best we have seen on any cruise ship.
Pool bandstands are usually situated in a way that only a small segment of the
audience can view what’s going on. Whereas this one is expansive and is so
situated that it affords everyone a very good view of what is taking place. The
band that plays pool side is called, ‘Root Link,’ and they were an exceptional
combo, who played a lot of Calypso music but could also do a very nice job with
ballads. We wish they had played in one of the lounges. We didn’t attend any of
the pool parties during the day or night but from what we heard from people who
attended, a great time was had by all... before we make a port stop... we are
going to tell you a little about the entertainment.
Entertainment:
Jane Powell and her combo is one of the featured acts. She is a big women with a
big voice. She has wonderful stage presence and embraces the audience with her
words and her voice. She isn’t on the stage very long before she has the
audience in the palm of her hand. The audience gave her a standing ovation.
The Jean Ann Ryan Production Company was a group of very talented performers
with an unbelievable amount of energy. The two production shows were ‘Encnore,
Mr. Producer’ and ‘Cirque-Pan.’ ‘Cirque-Pan’ was an intriguing display of
dancing and aerial artistry. The entire company was athletic but one member of
the cast excelled in this area. At different times during the production he
would hang from ropes attached to the stage ceiling and swing out over the front
rows of the audience while contorting his body in the most unusual ways. The
costumes and choreography were very different and unique. It was a very
enjoyable show... these were the only shows we attended... now for our one port
of call.
Ports of Call:
We have visited most of the ports in the Caribbean many times and for our last
six or seven cruises, we rarely go ashore at any of the ports. We would rather
stay on board and enjoy the ambience of the ship, especially when every ones
ashore. That is true with the exception of Cozumel, which is one of our favorite
places to visit because we love having lunch at Pancho’s Backyard. Two ports
that were on this itinerary that were new to us was Roatan and Belize. Our
friends that went ashore said that the main attraction of these ports was
snorkeling. Other than that there wasn’t much to see....we’re going to have you
join us for a round of golf... the kind of golf everyone can play... miniature
golf at Scott & Sally’s unique and innovative Cozumel Mini Golf.
.
Cozumel Mini Golf & Pancho’s Backyard:
Before we tell you about our visit to Pancho’s, we want to tell you about an
unique enterprise, started by two Americans from Pennsylvania. It is called
Cozumel Mini Golf... I know for many of you Macho men... just the thought of
Miniature golf will turn you off... but before you tune me out... I want you to
visit their web-site... once you see it, I know you will want to read what I
have to say... http://annuit.com/spiffytek/oceania/minigolf/index.html Now,
didn’t I tell you it was different and unique? We first learned of Sally &
Scotts mini-golf course through one of our readers. We decided it would be a
nice diversion to play a round of miniature golf and then go to Panchos for
lunch. Their web-site was well-done but you have to see it in person, to realize
what they have accomplished. If some years ago you had told me I would be
writing about miniature golf... I would have laughed at you. Since our
retirement in 1973, Mary and I have been avid golfers and in fact, I was club
champion of the Hamlet Golf Club in Delray, Florida, when the TV commentator
Pete Kostis was the pro. I tell you this not to impress you, but to let you
know, I too would roll my eyes when anyone mentioned miniature golf. But much to
my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but I didn’t think it very nice that
Mary laughed a lot whenever my ball went in the water. Mary sunk her putt on the
last hole to beat me one up. She was as happy as could be. [Do you think Wimpy
would have it end any other way?]
When they sign you up, they ask you what type music you like and they give you
fifty CD’s to chose from. We chose Frank Sinatra & Tony Bennet. As you walk to
the first tee, they load the music and you begin to hear it as you approach the
fourth hole. Their 18 holes of golf take you on a stroll through a lush,
tropical forest, with banana trees, lush foliage, waterfalls, streams and ponds.
Scott, who was a scratch golfer, designed the course to replicate the bends and
breaks found on real golf courses and it provides challenging fun for players of
any skill level. Another innovation is, they give you a walkie-talkie to carry
with you, and you can order beer, sangria and soft drinks from whatever hole
your playing and your drinks will be brought to you. They are located three
blocks from the ocean, directly across from the huge flagpole on the
waterfront... Corner of Calle 1 and 15th Ave. We had a great time and we think
you will really enjoy a visit to Cozumel Mini Golf.
How You Can Get a Free Margarita at Pancho’s Backyard in Cozumel:
A number of our readers have written to us thanking us for suggesting they have
lunch at Pancho’s Backyard. We have been going there for lunch for the past four
years and is one of the reasons we like sailing the Western Itinerary. It’s a
beautiful indoor, outdoor restaurant that has won many awards. You enter
Pancho’s by going into and through our favorite Caribbean store, “Los Cinco
Soles.” Whereas when you walk along Cozumel’s main street, you are harassed and
badgered by every merchant and street vendor along the way, when you enter Los
Cinco Soles, the little Mexican sales girls are dressed alike in white peasant
dresses and do not speak to or go near a customer unless the customer asks them
too. In the back of Los Cinco Soles is a chic women’s boutique that features
hand painted Mexican peasant dresses. You enter Pancho’s from either store, and
walk into a beautiful open tiled courtyard, with tables set under tall swaying
palms.
We had lunch with the manager, Manuel Hernandez, and had a delightful visit. He
said that since the last time he saw us he has instructed all his waiters to
give a free Margarita to anyone that says, “Tom and Mary Sent Me.” But just in
case there is a slip up, we have a way that will assure you that you will get a
free Margarita. Go to the Los Cinco Soles web-site and print the page and
present it at Pancho’s when you go there for lunch. A copy of the page is a
coupon for a free Margarita. The page address is: http://www.loscincosoles.com/loscincosoles/coupons.htm
Print a page for each one that is having lunch. While you’re at this site, go to
their home page and you will see the link that will show you pictures of
Pancho’s. If you don’t feel like going on an excursion, you can have a wonderful
time in Cozumel by first playing a round at Sally & Scotts Mini Golf and then
going to Pancho’s and have a relaxing and romantic lunch with your loved one..
BTW, I forgot to tell you, for the luncheon period from 12-3, you are serenaded
by two charming Mexican men who play the Marimbas in the courtyard.. It’s
delightful and we know you will enjoy it.
Dancing, at Least Our Kind, Was Practically Non-Existent:
As many of you know, Mary & I love to dance, before and after our dinner and
shows. We truly believe that dancing is love set to music and we look forward to
being in each others arms as the orchestra plays those beautiful ballads of
yesteryear. We have been on cruises where our dancing was limited because of
lack of a good dancing venue, but this is the first time we have been on a
cruise that we never danced a step. The few times we went to Dazzles, they were
playing and dancing to music we are not familiar with. I think it’s called
Hip-Hop. The only Hip-Hop we know is what our children’s rabbits did when we let
them loose in the yard. We even tried the Walter Mathau and Jack Lemmon thing
they did in their movie ‘Out to Sea,’ of dancing in their cabin. We tried it a
few times when we had a good music channel on TV but it didn’t work to well, the
cocktail table kept getting in our way. I wonder if the cruise people are
forgetting about us old timers who are the people that Tom Brokaw wrote about in
his book, ‘The Greatest Generation.” We are those people who still remember and
love to dance to the music of the big bands, holding our sweethearts in our
arms, while listening to the words of those great love ballads of the past. We
know there are different strokes for different folks and that every generation
dances to a different tune, but I would think the cruise lines would use good
business sense and set aside a venue where the greatest generation could once
again, do their thing.
Finally--In Conclusion:
I think the following is the perfect example how people can have the same
experience and see it in a completely different light. Maja
posted the first message and before we had a chance to answer her, Debbie
answered her with her post.
Maja: Subject: Just realized Tom & Mary returned from Norwegian Sun:
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful experience. Okay, I leave next
Friday..10/18 and your review won't be done by then. Help! As I told you before,
your opinion is very valuable to me. This is my 14th cruise, but, I have some
concerns, mainly about freestyle dining.
[Before we had a chance to answer, Debbie answered her with the following post.]
Debbie: Subject: Tom & Mary’s Sun Cruise:
I'll assure you Tom & Mary didn't like the Sun! It just doesn't fit their
concept of cruising. For me and my husband, however, it was very good. We loved
the ship, the freestyle dining, the excursions, the shows...and on and on. This
ship, and freestyle cruising just is NOT traditional. If you like getting all
dressed up to the nines and dancing the night away to big band hits....this just
isn't for you! If, however, you enjoy a more casual approach, dining when and
where you choose, and a really terrific itinerary...then consider the Sun. The
alternative restaurants that we tried were very good, but food was not our
reason for this vacation! Our itinerary was shuffled for the 9/28 sailing due to
Lili, but due to some really good decisions about when and where to sail, we
made it to all our ports in a different order.
Debbie expressed the very thoughts I was searching for to conclude this review.
She eloquently verified and validated what I said earlier in our review; ‘We’re
sure there will be a number of people who were on this same cruise that will see
it in a completely different way.’ Debbie is a seasoned, savvy cruiser who was
on the same cruise with us and she had a completely different experience. Don’t
let our review frighten you. We are looking at things from our perspective and
Debbie is looking at things from her prospective. It doesn't mean either of us
is right or wrong, it just means that all of us see things in our own unique
way.
We think NCL should be commended for being the pioneers in initiating Freestyle
Cruising. It’s never easy to be the first in any venture but especially so in
such a radical new approach to cruising. It takes awhile before you can iron out
all the kinks in a new operation. I’m sure they will be working diligently to
improve their operation in the ensuing months. We do not have the slightest
doubt that Freestyle Cruising is here to stay and will become a very popular
feature with many of the cruise lines.
My Mary & I are having the time of our lives and it keeps getting better. I have
a lot to look forward too, Mary is like a great wine, she gets better and more
intoxicating with age. God has been good to us and has made our latter years the
most enjoyable and productive period of our life. We are eagerly looking forward
to celebrating our 28th ‘Honeymoon’ with our friends from Pennsylvania, Eilleen
& Herb Thompson on December 2nd, aboard RC’s Brilliance of the Seas and on
February 12th, Valentines week, Wimpy & Mary will be celebrating their 29th
‘Honeymoon’ aboard the new Princess ship, the ‘Coral Princess’ with their dear
friends, Marie and Charlie Phillips.
To those who have never cruised, we suggest you try it. We can assure you it is
a completely different experience than any vacation you might have had. If you
haven't celebrated an anniversary at sea, you should give it some thought. As
Mary & I say in every one of our reviews, we cant think of a more romantic,
intimate way of spending quality time with the one you love, than when on a
cruise and that is especially true when your celebrating an anniversary. Try it,
it just might add a new dimension to your life.
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have, especially those from
first time cruises.
May your next cruise be your best,
Our warmest regards,
Tom & Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE:
Pre Cruise Things To Do:
For those of you who are reading our reviews for the first time, we suggest some
pre cruise things to do, that have greatly enhanced our cruise experience. Read:
“Before, During and After Your Cruise. http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/ThingsToDo.htm
We suggest you also Read http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/CruiseExperience.htm
: “How to Heighten Your Cruise Experience”
Prepare Envelopes for Tipping Before you Leave for Your Cruise:
Many of our readers have tried our suggestion on tipping with great results.
Following are some examples of the many e-mails we received.
<<The tipping went very well. I would recommend it for everyone. All in all we
had a delightful experience made even more so
by the tipping method. >> Mike & Pat Ball
<< I followed your tip suggestion on our last cruise and had the best service of
any cruise thus far.>> Jay Krueger
<<I’ve been on 18 previous cruises and I never had the service or got the
attention like I did after pre tipping the crew on our last cruise. Your
suggestion worked like magic and it didn’t cost any more than I normally tip.
Thanks for a great suggestion.>> Mike Sullivan
Our Tipping Suggestion:
We like to give the suggested tip for the week, waiter, assistant waiter,
Maitre`d and to our cabin attendant the first evening of our cruise. Tipping at
the end of the week is like locking the barn door after the horse ran away. We
make out [3x5] envelopes with a note that reads...
The main reason we love to cruise, is because of the way the servers have
catered too and pampered us during our many cruises. We appreciate what you do
and would like you to have this as a down payment on your services...Thank you,
Tom & Mary Milano.”
We have never had service on any of our cruises that was poor enough to warrant
us tipping less than the suggested amount. By tipping the suggested amount on
the first night, you let your servers know that you are appreciative of them and
they can expect an additional stipend at the end of the cruise. [At the end of
the cruise we usually give an additional $20 to the waiter, $10 to the assistant
and $10 or $20 to the cabin attendant]. Giving an extra forty dollars for the
week, is a small price to pay to ensure the very best from your servers. Take
our word for it. It does make a difference. Make Out Envelopes For Pre Tipping.
Magic of the $2 Bill:
If what we hear from our readers is true, banks should start running out of $2
in the new future. This again is another low-cost way of getting a high return.
We start collecting $2 bills weeks before the cruise. We take with us $20--$30
in $2 bills. I call these our magic potion. I take a $2 bill and keep folding it
until I have a small square, with the large imprint of the $2 covering the
surface. I use the $2 bills a lot in the beginning of the cruise. It's important
what you say when you give it, otherwise it doesn't have much significance. When
I give it to a server, I say to them, “Give me your hand.” When they give me
their hand, I take it and with my other hand I show them the folded $2 bill;
then I say to them, “I want you to know this is a magic $2 bill and I can
promise you that during this coming week something special is going to happen to
you, something that will make you very happy, and when it happens we want you to
come tell us.” Very few servers have ever seen a $2 bill and that alone gets
their rapt attention. Then you can see by their quizzical expression that their
thinking; it's crazy but who knows, it might work. Who among us doesn't have
some form of a lucky piece? A lucky coin, a rabbits foot, a religious medal. All
we can tell you is, we have had the most amazing, wonderful things happen as a
result of giving out these two dollar bills; not the least is the friendliness
and the exceptional service we have received from our servers. Start Collecting
$2 Bills.
Make Your Luggage Easy to Spot:
85% of all luggage is black. It will save you a lot of time and aggravation if
you put a colorful bow or luggage strap on your belongings. It is much easier to
identify them among thousands of pieces of luggage on the terminal floor...Tie
Something Colorful On Your Luggage
The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important:
Mary and I have found that there are certain things that we can do the first day
that will set the tone for our entire cruise. The first thing we do is check our
table assignment. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing this. It’s
important to see if the table assigned you is what you requested. If it isn’t,
speak to the Maitre`d as soon as possible and he will has a chance to make the
change you desire. If after the first evening, you are not happy with whom
you’re seated, speak to the Maitre`de and ask to have your table changed. If he
can possibly change it he will, he wants to make you happy. If the ship has an
alternative restaurant, this is the time to make your reservation. Most
alternative restaurants have limited seating, so be sure to make your
reservation as soon as you can...Check Your Table Assignment and Then Make
Reservations For The Alternative Restaurant.
All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not the Same:
Mary & I come from large families. Our siblings have similar characteristics but
each one has their own distinct personality. Cruise lines and their ships are
like that. Not all ships of a cruise line are the same. They differ for many
reasons. The age of the ship, the size of the ship (the tonnage), the amenities,
the expertise of the Food Manager/Executive Chef but the most important
difference is how the crew comes together under the guidance and the direction
of the Hotel Manager. The effectiveness of his training of the servers is
reflected in the way the crew caters to and pampers their guests.
The point we’re making is, if you want to increase your odds of booking the ship
that will best fulfill your expectations, we suggest you learn as much as
possible about the ships of the cruise line your considering booking. Read as
many cruise reviews as you can. Frequent the cruise message boards; Cruise
Addicts & Google are very good ones, having many seasoned cruisers and TA’s as
members. If you have a question about a specific ship or port, post your
question and one of them will answer you. You shouldn’t leave every thing to
your TA. Do as much research as possible so you can give your TA the information
he/she needs to help you select the right ship and right itinerary for you. The
Internet has a wealth of information about cruising. The following are cruise
web sites we recommend that will help you in your research.
Cruise Web Sites:
These are URL’s of interesting and informative cruise web sites. We will be
adding to this list with each new review.
**New-Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise http://www.sobrietyatsea.com/pages/1/index.htm
**New-Very Good Snorkeling Guide http://www.cruisereviews.com/info/snorkeling.htm
Cruise Reviews and Feature Articles http://www.cruisereviews.com/
Every Cruise Link Imaginable http://awinner.freeyellow.com/index.html
Sites for the Caribbean Islands http://www.shipboardcruiser.com/islandcruise/cb.html
One of the Best for Cruise Links: http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~rklein/cruise.html
Deck Plans: http://www.cruise.com/pez/ship_deck/decks.asp
New Ships & Cruise News http://www.cruisenewsdaily.com/newships.html
Singles & Parents Without Partners: http://www.cruisereviews.com/NancyNorris.htm
Cruise News-Updated Weekly: http://www.cybercruises.com/newsfile.htm
Royal Caribbean Discussion Group: http://www.evensens.net/rccl/rccl.html
Comprehensive List of Cruise Links:
http://www.cruise-links.com
The Best Cruise Ship Pictures on the Internet:
http://home-4.tiscali.nl/~t411310/indx.htm
A good way to save these URL’s and have them readily available:
Swipe with your cursor and copy. Then in your e-mail program, open new message,
then paste. Then address the message to your self and in the subject line write
Cruise Sites. In a short period of time you will receive it as new mail. Open a
new folder, name it Cruise Sites in your e-mail program and move the e-mail with
the Cruise URL’s to that folder. This way you will have the URL’s handy whenever
you need them.
Our Final Suggestion is to ‘Write a Review:
http://www.cruisereviews.com/submit/ After you adjust to being back
home and you slowly recover from after cruise depression, sit down and write
about all the wonderful things you experienced. You don't have to be a polished
writer to write a review. All you have to do is write as if you were having a
conversation with your best friend. The important thing is to be honest and
forthright. Writing a review is a wonderful way to relive your cruise, and at
the same time help fellow cruisers by sharing your thoughts. Tell them your
opinion of the ship, the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports of call
and any special moments you experienced. Also write about the things that
weren't so wonderful so your fellow cruisers can be forewarned. Include your
spouse and ask her/him for suggestions on what you should include. And remember,
don't be afraid of writing too much, longer is better than shorter. People are
reading your review to determine if the ship your writing about is the one they
should book. Put yourself in their place and tell them all the things you would
like to know. But whatever you do, the most important thing is for you to have
fun and enjoy what your doing. When your review is finished, Tom Ogg would be
happy to post it on his web site, http://www.cruisereviews.com If you need help,
Mary and I would be glad to assist you.
LOOSE ENDS & RANDOM THOUGHTS
Getting the Best Possible Price When Booking a Cruise:
A day doesn’t go by that
we don’t receive an e-mail from one of our readers, thanking us for our
suggestion on how to get the best possible price when booking a cruise. Even if
you have a cruise agent, take our word for it, what we suggest is a win/win
situation. If you would like us to send you our suggestion, drop us a line.
Internal Beauty is Unaffected by Time or Age: Leo Buscaglia wrote, “Love makes
us more comfortable with and accepting of each other's imperfections. Love isn't
appalled when we stand in the bathroom in sagging underwear, loudly gargling
with our hair pointing in all directions. It doesn't care that we've acquired a
new set of wrinkles on our face, that our skin is flabbier than it used to be,
that we have developed a more substantial midriff. When we love, we see through
such inconsequential things. We concentrate on internal beauty that is
unaffected by time or age. It is not that love is blind, it is, rather, that
love sees what is essential.”
Sobriety @ Sea: I was one of a group of eighty friends of Bill W. that
met on the Sun for the annual Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise. I have been a
recovering alcoholic for the past 36 years and this was the first reunion cruise
we attended. The first evening we had a non alcoholic get acquainted cocktail
party. We had a brief orientation, hors d`oeuvre's, fellowship and a drawing for
prizes. There was an hour and a half meeting each day. A half hour for
fellowship and then an hour speaker.. discussion meeting. The meetings were
outstanding with everyone participating.
Members of AA are advised not to break their anonymity. But because of my years
in A. A and my belief that there are AA members throughout the country and for
that matter the world, who would benefit greatly from attending the next annual
Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise. I would like to invite any A.A. member who is
reading this to consider getting his or her A. A. group to join us on the next
reunion cruise, to be held sometime in mid September, 2003. It is rumored it
will be a Caribbean cruise on one of RC’s Mega ships, probably the new
'Navigator of the Seas.' If you are interested in attending, and I strongly
encourage you to do so, make sure you visit the new Sobriety @ Sea web-site.
http:\\www.Sobrietyatsea.com .[which is under construction and will be ready in
a matter of days.] Bob, the organizer and group leader of Sobriety @ Sea has
provided all the appropriate information. Mary & I are looking forward to seeing
a lot of new faces on the next Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise.
A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment: Mary & I have collected one page
daily meditations for many years. Our local paper published them as a daily
column. We now send them by e-mail, five nights a week, to our loved ones,
friends, crew members of some of the ships we have sailed on and to readers of
our reviews. If you would like to receive the ‘Teaspoon of Spiritual
Nourishment,’ send us an e-mail and we will put you on our mailing list.
(Example)
A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment
Compiled by Tom & Mary Milano
We Should Cherish Our Friends As The Rarest of Jewels
We should never let our friends go out of our lives if we can by any possibility
retain them. Friendship is too rare a treasure to be taken lightly and then
thrown away. And yet many people are not careful to retain their friends. Some
lose them through inattention, failing to maintain those little amenities,
courtesies and kindnesses which cost so little, and yet are hooks of steel to
grapple and hold our friends. Some drop old friends for new ones. Some take
offense easily at imagined slights or neglects, and ruthlessly cut the most
sacred ties. Some become impatient of little faults, and discard truest
friendships. Beautiful friendships are often destroyed, not by any sharp, sudden
quarrel, but by slowly and imperceptibly drifting apart until there is a great
chasm between two lives that once were woven together.
There are a great many ways of losing friends. But when we have taken true souls
into the grasp of our hearts, we should cherish them as the rarest of jewels.
There is no wealth in the world like a noble friendship, and nothing should
induce us to sacrifice such a treasure. If slights are given, let them be
overlooked. If misunderstandings arise, let them quickly be set right. Let not
pride or fiery temper or cold selfishness disdainfully toss away a friendship
for a trivial cause. It is not hard to lose a friend, but the loss is utterly
irreparable.
Let it never be overlooked that we as friends must stand and be ready to do all
that we expect our friends to be and to do. If we set a high standard for them,
that standard must be ours also. It will not do to give pebbles and ask for
diamonds in return...Week-Day Religion, J. R. Miller
Cruisereviews.com Features a Page of the Best Snorkeling Locations: Tom Kanitra
has compiled a very comprehensive but simple guide for those who would like to
snorkel islands in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and the Canary Islands. The
URL is: Snorkeling Guide...
by Tom Kanitra- http://www.cruisereviews.com/info/snorkeling.htm
Good Advice From Will Rogers: “So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the
family parrot to the town gossip.”
Do You Know There is a Distinct Possibility You Will Live to be a Hundred:
We think you may be surprised to learn there are more than 52,000 men and
women in America that are beyond the age of 100 and over half of the
centenarians are in good health, physically, mentally and spiritually. Read how
I decided to test the pundits theory that losing weight will solve many of our
medical problems. http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/Liveto100.htm
Our Favorite Spiritual Meditation: ‘Meeting Him in the Morning.’ This is a
meditation that has a profound meaning for Mary & I. It reminds us what is the
first thing we should do when we wake up each morning.
Having communed with the heavenly Father at sunrise... in the garden of
prayer... reminds me of a certain valley in Romania where they grow nothing but
roses for the Vienna market. The perfume of the valley... in the time of the
rose crop... is such that if go into it for a few minutes... wherever you go for
the rest of the day... people know where you have been... the fragrance goes
with you.
If you make it a practice of meeting him every morning, before you face the
regular and irregular duties that are before you... you will find His fragrance
will stay with you throughout the day and the influence of His personality, will
control your every act.
Mary’s Suggestion For the Cruise Lines: One night at dinner, after going
to a different restaurant each evening, Mary came up with what I think is a
great idea. She said, “Instead of having so many alternative restaurants, with
so many different foods, many of which the people know nothing about, why don’t
they give the people what has proven to be their favorites, the three Ethnic
foods that are the favorite of most people. Italian, Chinese & Mexican. Why not
have an authentic Chinese restaurant, you know the kind where you can get an egg
roll, Wonton soup, Moo Goo Guy Pan and all the other popular Chinese dishes. And
an Italian restaurant where you could get various Pastas and sauces, Veal dishes
and Scampi and other seafood cooked Italian style. And finally an authentic
Mexican restaurant where you could get the kind of Mexican food that is served
in one of the good Mexican restaurants in the states. I know we would love to
have Chinese... we love Italian food... and Mexican food has become very
popular... We were in the restaurant business and have dined extensively and we
had a difficult time understanding what the entrees were in some of the
restaurants. I think they would be much better off if they simplified their
operation. I think the people would like it better and it would be easier for
the cruise lines to implement.” How about that... from my Mary. I think
she has a great idea. What do you think?
Thank you for taking the time to read our very long review.
We hope we have been of some help to you.
The End
Ever thought of becoming a part time or home based travel agent? Follow this link to see some of the books Tom Ogg has authored.
