allinwonderland

I was on the Panorama in September, and I booked the cruise less than 90 days out from the sail date; the classes were in the planner as soon as I got access to it. For my upcoming trip in January (which is now just over 60 days out) they aren't there. It's strange.

Okay I'm not the only one! I was hoping to do one of these classes when I'm on the Panorama again in January but I've been stalking the planner waiting for them to show up and nada. Someone in my FB roll call posited that maybe they're discontinuing this service and I didn't think much of it at first, but now I'm worried...

OOOH I wish I knew what was in the rainbow drink but it seems like your Alchemists like their secrets

Oh no! Thanks for asking. I'm not taking any Mardi Gras cruises anytime soon so I doubt I'll end up on a ship with him. Maybe I can just ask any Alchemist for a "creamy coconut martini" and they'll be able to make me something decent, if not the absolute treasure of a magic potion he created for you 😂 Also, have fun at the mixology class! I did that last time and it was such a riot!

How many bars have you hit today already/what number drink is this? You're like a machine! 😂

Can you ask what's in that coconut martini?? I want to ask an Alchemist to recreate it for me after you've been raving about it like this.

You're allowed two things from the non-main course section: some people say the waitstaff makes you choose one soup or salad, and then something else (and that was my experience); some people say you can get two appetizers and it doesn't matter what they are. Then you can get a main, two sides, and dessert.

I was under the impression that the first menu was the old one, and the second menu is current. And that the menu is standardized across the fleet. I was on the Panorama, where it's called Fahrenheit 555, and I had the second menu.

OOH yes please review the free food at Java Blue! I've been so curious about that since I first heard about it. MDR breakfast closes so early on port days and the buffet can be such hell.

I think the real problem is the lack of interesting ports in the Pacific. If you want a typical "beach vacation" cruise it's the Mexican Riviera ports, or if you can take a 2 week cruise then you can get to Hawaii (which I would love to do sometime, but unless you're retired you probably can't take that much time off work so easily, let alone take the kids out of school). To get to any of the islands in the South Pacific would take even longer.

I agree this isn't what it looks like all the time (i.e. the people clustered on the railings are probably there to watch some activity) but the rings of chairs and them being mostly full - or towel-hogged - seems about right from what I remember in September.

You got some awesome Alchemy drinks! I pretty much always said "fruity and vodka-based" when I did an off-the-menu one but I gotta get more creative next time.

Aww mannn if I'd booked 2 weeks sooner I could've cruised with the infamous 15-drinks Megan! 😂 (I'm on the Panorama again Jan 21, after having such a great time in September) Looking forward to what you think of VV! I almost pulled the trigger on an April sailing on Valiant Lady, but then life stuff happened, but I'm definitely curious to try this line as well.

So they look like the food served in the steakhouse, as opposed to the versions of the same item that are served in the MDR at no charge on elegant nights?

Has anyone ever ordered off the "steakhouse selections" up-charge menu in the MDR, specifically the filet mignon, and could you share a picture of it if so? I was less than impressed with the included filet mignon on formal night (still very edible, but I wouldn't pay a $23 up-charge for it). However, if they actually bring you a filet cooked in the steakhouse, that I might be willing to do, since a lot of the times the other entrees in the MDR are less than palatable.

Another devotee of the Whimsy Scarlett! I don't know what makes it so good but it's soooooooooooo good; if I could get it everywhere, I would be in heaven. Oh well, like I need another excuse to go to the comedy club, haha!

The new third entree charge is only for the MDR. Steakhouse is 2 apps (sometimes they make you pick 1 app and 1 soup or salad), 1 entree, 2 sides, and 1 dessert. If for some reason that's not enough food (portions are also much bigger than the MDR) I've heard people say you can order another entree but will be charged for it, and a lot more than $5.

It's mostly the same menu, but no Art at your table dessert - there's an apple tart instead. And I think no more wagyu (not sure if that was on the menu shared a few posts back).

Unfortunately the menu shared is not the most recent one and they no longer offer Art at your Table.

I wanted to love these so badly because I LOVE breakfast burritos, but I just didn't. Did I get a bad batch of ingredients or something? Nothing tasted bad, per se (the eggs were kind of cold which wasn't great) but it just wasn't anything special.

It was available every day on my last cruise (Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ is the one that only serves free lunch on sea days)

Most other cruise lines offer lobster on their second formal night. I read somewhere that they don't expect you to eat as much by then because you've been gorging yourself for the rest of the trip (that most people slow down their pace of food consumption by about day 3).

You know I originally made that comment more joking than not, because I thought the email had very clear language around it only being for dinnertime (when the menu makes very clear what's an entree) but I just checked again and no, it doesn't... I suspect the situation you just described would be a bit more clear (bacon is considered a side dish) but there are others that aren't. I'm not sailing again until January, so I guess I'll be stalking these boards for people's reports of what the situation actually is like.

I was wondering that too. Or appetizers. And what about breakfast and sea day brunch - will we also be capped at number of plates there? (She asks half in jest, but also half not, as someone whose favorite meal is breakfast...)

Mac and cheese from Guy's BBQ 🤤 Pizza! I was wholly surprised that was as good as it was, being on a cruise ship Chocolate cake from sea day brunch Grand Marnier souffle on elegant night MDR menu