pepperandchips

Just noticed you hit 5000 posts with the chocolate fountain... coincidence that you forgot to share the photo? I think not!

Just noticed you hit 5000 posts with the chocolate fountain... coincidence that you forgot to share the photo? I think not!

Breaking News!
3 days out and Hubby is almost done packing!
While this might not seem like a big deal to some, those who know us well will understand the enormity and significance of this situation.  This is literally unheard of!  ?
Must be a special cruise....
One more day of work and we're off on Saturday.  My brain is already on vacation mode...

Just noticed you hit 5000 posts with the chocolate fountain... coincidence that you forgot to share the photo? I think not!

@matt we know your name is Matt Hochberg, you say it every show! ? “Blurred out Matt, international man of mystery”

Lord help. I thought my husband had it bad with high schoolers. No amount of money in the world can compensate you for the hormones of middle school! Thank you for what you do! 

This is a great blog! Thank you for posting! I am looking forward to hearing about your whole spicy trip! (Well okay maybe not the WHOLE thing) 

As I sit in The Bamboo Room it is quickly my fav which is an accomplishment given Edgardo at the Sky Bar aka Lime and Coconut who remembered me and my drink(s) from 3 months ago.  Both good options.  

Lord help. I thought my husband had it bad with high schoolers. No amount of money in the world can compensate you for the hormones of middle school! Thank you for what you do! 

Yeah, I hear it gets pretty critical elsewhere ?
Reminds me of a certain Disney related forum which will remain nameless.  Great information to be found there, but it gets just so negative at times that I can't stand being on it.  I understand though, people spend a lot of money on a vacation they want (expect?) everything to be perfect.  I like to look at it another way though: I spend a lot of money on a vacation so I'm gonna have a good time if it kills me!  Like I told one of the bartenders on our recent Indy cruise when we were talking about Coco Cay and the weather, "Well, if we miss it I will be disappointed, but I will just have to have a great extra sea day on the ship!"  Luckily we didn't miss it, but I was prepared to have a good time regardless.  And thanks to @Matt and this entire forum I knew to order a Coco Loco at the bar and I must say that me and my entire group were thankful for that knowledge.  I have a friend carefully experimenting to recreate the exact recipe, he was so enamored with it.

Lord help. I thought my husband had it bad with high schoolers. No amount of money in the world can compensate you for the hormones of middle school! Thank you for what you do! 

I am partial to the BBC - Bailey’s banana colada. It’s not something I’ve ever seen anywhere else so it just suggests “cruise” to me! 

Loving this thread - will try and try all of them out on Adventure in early April #whatthedrinkspackageismadefor ?

I loved the Labadoozie. It was very refreshing on the hot beach. 

Thanks for the awesome live blog, Matt! I liked this format too. I am super excited about our upcoming sailing on Brilliance. Four weeks from today!!!

I am partial to the BBC - Bailey’s banana colada. It’s not something I’ve ever seen anywhere else so it just suggests “cruise” to me! 

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

We have been very successful in getting items in one specialty restaurant that is offered elsewhere.  For instance, I often order the cream of mushroom soup when I’m in the Coastal Kitchen or Jamies and they always accommodate my requests.  The French onion soup is readily available on the ship in different venues so I would not hesitate to ask for it if you want it.  Recently, we were very disappointed that queso fundido had been removed from the menu at Sabor on Navigator.  I asked if they serve it even though it was not on the menu and he said that, unfortunately, they could not. We were so disappointed. Then to our great surprise, the next evening, when we were at dinner at Chops, here comes a beautiful serving of queso fundido.  I guess they had “found” some and brought it to us.  What a wonderful surprise.  So it is possible to get items that are not on the menu -even if they have been removed from the menu.  You just have to ask !

Yikes! Maybe I should lower my expectations. Personally I have yet to meet a lasagna I didn't like, but my husband's family is Italian so the bar is a bit higher with him. I do like meatloaf though... haha.

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

You guys are such a wealth of knowledge. Anyone know what to expect for turkey day on the seas? We're cruising Freedom Nov 22 (Western) and it looks like Thanksgiving would have been formal #2. Should I expect that menu or something turkey-centric? Should I instead ask for an Indian dish a la Hochberg? Just kidding, turkey tikka masala is for Easter only. In all seriousness, I think some of our party will be disappointed if we're not offered the lobster (usually served on the Jasmine menu which would fall on Thanksgiving). Any advice appreciated!
 
(Matt you should totally do a holidays at sea podcast. Just a suggestion but 'tis the season after last week's email about when the decorations get put up...)
 
Thanks again!
Melinda

Cruising Freedom Nov 22. Definitely going to check this out!

Cruising Freedom Nov 22. Definitely going to check this out!