happy cruzin

Amazing amount of work, and amazingly documented results! What fun that must have been :)

 

May I include a link to this post in my signature? Wait...I already did ;)

 

Agreed!

[quote name='golfadj']Not going to work as she never posted there.[/QUOTE]

[SIZE="3"]Oops....missed her saying that!:o

Then for it to work - she'd have to remember the screen name of someone who did post...and then search for their posts. That is likely to be a pain....but it might work. :cool: [/SIZE]

[quote name='Shaded Lady']No I wasn't subscribed... I must ave bookmarked the thread directly...[/QUOTE]

[SIZE="3"]Did you ever post to the thread??

If so - you can go to your stats and search for all of your posts. Might be able to find it that way! ;)[/SIZE]

This is not true. You don't need that international plan thing at $5.99/month just to send/receive texts, as the poster was asking. AT&T charges 50 cents to send and whatever your plan charges to receive; if unlimited texting, nothing to receive. You don't need any special plan for this. Done it many, many times.

 

Ok...the texts are .50/each for any sent - even without the plan, while using the Cellular at Sea network on the ship. Not sure that is the case in any of the ports.

 

OP - FYI.....here is the link to the Celluar at Sea information - choosing AT&T and Carnival Cruise Lines:

 

http://www.wireless.att.com/travelguide/coverage/coverage_details.jsp?CIDL=1578&MNC=CING

 

At the very bottom of the page it explains the cost for texts and calls - while on board.

 

I still think a call to AT&T's international department is the best way to go. That way they can talk to you about charges specific to your plan.

Yes! Now I remember telling my kids to text me as often as they wanted because it was still free. Spent about $7 - $8 sending texts back, definitely the cheapest way.

 

Yeah - alot of people assume that their home plan applies. That's what gets them in to trouble....NOTHING is included when you are on the Cellular at Sea network or in the ports (expect St. Thomas and San Juan) - it's ALL international roaming and chaged that way.

I see all the time people annoyed when they get their bill - "but its free to talk/text to them at home" NOT the case when cruising.

Thanks everyone, very helpful!

 

So do I need to call AT&T and set up some kind of international plan to do just the texts? Or will it work automatically with my regular messaging plan?

 

No - you will want to call them and put the "AT&T World Traveller" plan on your account. It's $5.99/month and you can put in on right before you leave and take it off once you get back and all of the charges post to your account. We usually take it off about 3 week to a month after we get back - just to be safe.

The international services department at AT&T has always been very helpful. They look up where we going, give us the options and answer all of my questions. Even though we have iPhones - we don't use data while on the cruise - so the World Traveller that lets us make and receive calls and texts is what we always go with. Texts are the least expensive - .50 sent or received. So it allows us to check in on things at home without paying 2.49/minute.

I just checked this;)The $.50 per text is correct, video/images closer to $1.50. ATT currently charges currently $2.49 minute onboard for cell phone calls. Told you need to have interational roaming and phone capablility.

 

I have heard horror stories of those with iphones who were charge data for auto updates. I'm taking a throwaway dumb phone with quad band coverage jik.

 

We both have iPhones - and follow the directions provided by AT&T and have NEVER been charged for any data beyond what's included in our plan.

Here's the link:

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/en_US/pdf/Travel-Tips.pdf

Glad you liked the photos and review. And I thought I was a picky eater! lol. You don't like fish, beef, pork, duck or chocolate? I would think there would be at least 1 dish that would appeal to everyone. :-)

Honestly, if I had seen this review before going and eating the dishes, I would have thought that 1/2 of it would be wasted on me. But I was pleasantly surprised. One thing that the photos cannot convey is the flavors, the textures, etc. I'm not trying to sell you on this.. I am just saying that the thing I learned and took away with me is that an amazing chef can change the way you view certain dishes. I liked and loved things I thought I hated. Apparently, I just hated them in the ways I'd been formerly introduced to them. :D

 

LOL...I felt the exact same way when we did it on the Miracle. I went because we were going with friends - I did not expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I did.

 

Everything was great - but my favorites were the Poblano Soup and the Chilean Sea Bass - NEITHER of which I expected to even tolerate....much less LIKE! :eek: ;) :D

 

 

Love, love....LOVE this menu!!! :) :D :)

 

It is the one we had on the Miracle in 2011 - but then I read that the menu had changed. We did not care for the new menu - if seemed like it was a "step down" from what we had enjoyed on the Miracle.

 

So are all the Chef's Tables back to serving this menu....or are there different menus on different ships??

 

If this is the menu offered on the Breeze we will DEFINITELY be doing it again!! ;) :D

I ate at the BBQ twice on my last trip. Here's a few things I remember....

 

1) If it looks like there's a line, there probably isn't. The place is just squeezed into a tight spot and people bunch up. Go to the aft side to find the plates and at the front grab the little cups to put your sauces in.

 

2) It's only open at lunch time on Sea Days. Don't forget to visit.

 

3) It's a great spot to bring your own soda and sit outside of the ocean plaza entrance or inside.

 

4) The food was quiet tasty. I didn't try the hotdogs but the silders, tacos at tort chips were yummy. They had several sauces to choose from and they were all good. I really like the garlic / cilantro ( green ) it was really sweet. It pored over really well. The chips are very pastry but crispy.

 

5) It's really outdoor grill not BBQ. American and Tex-Mex influence with a bit of an Asian Fusion type presentation the way they put the Korean Slaw over things. Real foodie (me) type stuff.

 

This place and the tandoor were a couple of my better food experiences on the Magic.

 

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

Same thing with the Plaza Cafe in the Ocean Plaza - with the sandwiches and soups that is around the corner from the place with the sandwich wraps. They have some things that the deli on the Lido does not have - like a yummy chicken salad.

Pretty sure it's only open for lunch on sea days too - and we almost missed it.

Wow!!!! Thanks for the pictures. The food looks so good..

I love BBQ'd meat...Where is this located>? Outside by the Red Frog ?

 

Out on the Lanai - outside the Ocean Plaza area. Enjoy ;)

Here is a quote from the dining review for the Magic on this website:

 

If you're hankering for something different for lunch on sea days' date=' don't miss the [b']Oceanside Barbecue[/b] set up on Deck 5 near the RedFrog. We felt bad for the occupants of the smoke-enveloped Deck 6 cabins just above the grills that were churning out sliders, hot dogs and chicken, but once we dug in to the feast we stopped caring. Diners can also enjoy homemade chips and salsa and a selection of salads.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I haven't heard of a BBQ before.

Has anyone been? Is it good?

 

Yes - we have eaten there and it was good. But there was some seasoning in some of it that I was not fond of :o

Just to clarify.....it's "barbeque" - as in cooked outside on a grill....not BBQ as southern BBQ with sauce ;).

I have been trying to get info about tea re: Dream without much luck!:confused: Just wondering what days, what times and where??:confused:

 

Pretty sure its always sea days and a little later in the afternoon....I want to say ours was at 3 - but I'm not positive :o and it was in the aft dining room.

They are listed in the Fun Times....or you could ask once you board.

Enjoy!!

Yes! Tea time is served on sea days around 3:00 in the afternoon. You'll find and assortment of teas, tea sandwiches, pastries, and other baked goods. Most ships offer live piano music as well, though some have instrumental music piped in. It's one of my favorite events!

 

Enjoy!

 

Agreed!!

 

We - me, my Mom and my daughter in law - did the tea for the first time on the Magic last December. It was a WONDERFUL experience - we really enjoyed it and I will make a point of doing it again on future cruises!! ;) :D

Thanks so much for sharing! It will be our turn VERY soon ;)

These two deserts are the only reason I go to Le Bistro! I always order both. DH loves the mushroom soup, escargo, mussles(his favorite), lamb or beef...but I could skip everything but the deserts.

 

Now....your talkin' my language! ;) :D

I believe we need photos of these two items to help us decide ... yup, photos people. Anyone?????:confused:

 

Yeah....yeah.....THAT'S what we need - photos!! ;) :D

Another Le Bistro favorite is the Chocolate Fondue. It is great to share. DH and I love to get extra bananas to dip in the decadent chocolate. It's always desert chocolate overload for me when we dine in Le Bistro. But they are oh so good.

 

 

OMG....you're telling me I have to choose between chocolate napoleon AND chocolate fondue :eek:. How in the heck am I supposed to do THAT :confused: :cool: :D

Yes, yes, yes....the Forest Mushroom soup is a favorite, besides the Chocolate Napoleon. A meal at Le Bistro would not be the same without them.

 

More than happy to add the dessert to my list....had the soup! Any other "must haves" you would recommend :confused: ;)

Le Bistro would be a good place to start... :D

 

Tom

 

 

Ok then!! That's 2 "must haves" at Le Bistro....the mushroom soup AND the chocolate napoleon. ;) :D

EXCELLENT choice. Actually, the Chocolate Napoleon is my favorite desert on the ship.

 

CHOCOLATE NAPOLEON :eek:....how did I miss that one??!?!?! Where might someone find such a treat?? ;) :D

Yep! If you don't want me to drop french fries into the rice, don't put the french fries behind the rice! :)

 

Sounds simple enough....to me! ;) :D

I was actually looking for the "bacon police" and they were out in full force. I asked for a second piece of ham and the server seemed a bit surprised. :)

 

They developed a new tactic as well. Because there's not a lot of room on the buffet line (picture one Epic food station), they put some of the food in BACK of the items in front. It was usually the best stuff! lol. So with the sneeze screen and placement of the food you had to virtually do a one-armed limbo to get at the food, and then pray you didn't drop it, or your plate, in the maneuver. I literally laughed out loud a couple of times.

 

LOL....been there and done that!! :eek: ;)

Miracle aft corners are sweet - you'll enjoy that!

 

 

Tom

 

I'll second that!! ;) :D

We would LOVE to sail with you guys again... though our 1/28/12 Eclipse cruise is a bit of a complication! I just noticed that the letters for the word EPIC can be found in the first five letters of ECLIPSE!!! :D

 

You know, we got to thinking about it and decided that since we get off our second cruise on the Epic on December 3rd (2011), that we did not want to get back on again a 3rd time so soon -- 9 weeks later.... :(

 

Hey -- we were trying to get you guys to sail on the Epic with us 11/26/11 -- but NOOOOOO you had that darn Carnival Magic cruise on December 4th! LOL :D

 

I am sure that BOTH of those will be great cruises (though the Epic will be REALLY great)! :cool:

 

Tom

 

LOL....yeah, yeah, yeah.....

We just have to get better at coordinating our calendars....that's all!! ;) :D