Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 10, 2011 #1 Share Posted August 10, 2011 OK, I'll start it. Was just out at lunch at the Ant Hill Tavern at UC Irvine enjoying some of the 40 microbrews on tap there, and so am in "cocktail party mode". You are encouraged to post to this thread during your "cocktail hour" (whatever time that may be....). Topic is open and encouraged to change. To molify the moderators, we'll start with an on-topic question: What is your favorite venue for cocktails on the Marina-class ships? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted August 10, 2011 #2 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Well, we have just started our cocktail hour here at home in Sugar Land at 5 p.m. (too hot to get out - 105). I would say I have 2 locations on the Marina--Horizon because we can see out, and our own balcony. However, anywhere on the ship is good for us. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 10, 2011 #3 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Fabulous thread Ragner Martini's is our favorite, particularly with Antonio (worlds best bartender) mixing the Marina Martinis and the multi talented Jerry Blaine at that fabulous piano. If only the rest of life could be as satisfying- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skigrams Posted August 10, 2011 #4 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Martinis for me also. Now that they have pillows on the couches I'm sure I will like it so much better whenever the next time rolls around. Those couches were sooooooo deep! My feet never did touch the floor!! Bobi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted August 10, 2011 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Being among the first to Tapas and settling into a chair outside, reminiscing about our day and watching the sun set. (sometimes the veranda works almost as well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPR Posted August 10, 2011 #6 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Martini's would be a lot more inviting if you couldn't see the lifeboats. Sort of destroys the ambience. YMMV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted August 11, 2011 #7 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Ah, we too enjoy Martini's with the excellent Antonio after we have knocked a few back on our balcony savoring chocolate covered strawberries. We do miss having a "few" w/ J&S. Some day soon perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted August 11, 2011 #8 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Martini's would be a lot more inviting if you couldn't see the lifeboats. Sort of destroys the ambience. YMMV... After a few "Martini's"...what life boats??:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvenLee Posted August 11, 2011 #9 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Can't wait to have our evening cocktail at the Horizons Lounge watching the action outside the windows. We do look forward to our first Marina cruise in Nov. (TA). I can imagine that it will be just as great as the Regatta lounges. And, I really look forward to meeting many new friends as we have on other cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 11, 2011 #10 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Martini's would be a lot more inviting if you couldn't see the lifeboats. Sort of destroys the ambience. YMMV... I disagree. We already have Horizons as the "room with a view", and frankly those huge windows are nothing more than giant pools of blackness after dark at sea. Many of the finest Cocktail Lounges have a sheltered ambiance, and well curtained windows, particularly on ships Ambassador Lounge, Rotterdam V Tourist Bar, Niew Amsterdam of 1939 Jungle Bar, Nieuw Amsterdam of 1939 Tourist Cocktail Bar, France of 1960 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted August 11, 2011 #11 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Fabulous thread RagnerMartini's is our favorite, particularly with Antonio (worlds best bartender) mixing the Marina Martinis and the multi talented Jerry Blaine at that fabulous piano. If only the rest of life could be as satisfying- You wonderful photo reminded me that Martini's was not Martini's for me in June because Antonio had left, apparently not long before our cruise. Without him or Jerry Blaine and with the very serious entertainment staffers doing evening Trivia (you all already read my complaints about evening trivia: no musical trivia, one night 20 science questions:eek:, absolutely no talking/joking out loud permitted), we spent very little time there this trip. To answer the original question: in spite of the weird furniture for people not more than 5 feet tall, I loved cocktails in Horizons, particularly when I ran into Cosmo girl yorkiemom there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted August 11, 2011 #12 Share Posted August 11, 2011 You wonderful photo reminded me that Martini's was not Martini's for me in June because Antonio had left, apparently not long before our cruise. Without him or Jerry Blaine and with the very serious entertainment staffers doing evening Trivia (you all already read my complaints about evening trivia: no musical trivia, one night 20 science questions:eek:, absolutely no talking/joking out loud permitted), we spent very little time there this trip. To answer the original question: in spite of the weird furniture for people not more than 5 feet tall, I loved cocktails in Horizons, particularly when I ran into Cosmo girl yorkiemom there! Thanks, Pam. I enjoyed our times together, too. I really wish you would come on this cruise! I had my share of Cosmos in Martini's. One night I was there & the pianist asked me if I had any requests. I told him I loved anything from The Phantom. He played a medley of all the songs and along with my Naughty Martini.........I was in Heaven. For some reason, I have never noticed the life boats when I'm there.:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 11, 2011 #13 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Thanks, Pam. I enjoyed our times together, too. I really wish you would come on this cruise! I had my share of Cosmos in Martini's. One night I was there & the pianist asked me if I had any requests. I told him I loved anything from The Phantom. He played a medley of all the songs and along with my Naughty Martini.........I was in Heaven. For some reason, I have never noticed the life boats when I'm there.:p Ok, I'll bite. What is a Naughty Martini? And how can I get one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted August 11, 2011 #14 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Ok, I'll bite. What is a Naughty Martini? And how can I get one? I learned about it on the Marina! It's right up there with the Jim-tini for an after dinner martini. It's made with Baileys! Yummmm!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted August 11, 2011 #15 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I learned about it on the Marina! It's right up there with the Jim-tini for an after dinner martini. It's made with Baileys! Yummmm!!:D oh yes, another one of Antonio's concoctions! Was Bloge (from Montenegro) still there when you sailed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 11, 2011 #16 Share Posted August 11, 2011 oh yes, another one of Antonio's concoctions! Was Bloge (from Montenegro) still there when you sailed? Going on Regatta Sunday really looking forward to seeing who is in Martinis and who the Maitre'd is.. Stu and I have a 7:30 reservation in Polo the first night and cant wait!! Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKS Posted August 11, 2011 #17 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Have a great time, Jan! Maybe you can find the computer lab very briefly during your "happy hour" onboard and set up the toast us all on this thread once or twice during your cruise. I missed happy hour last evening and at 7A.M. it's probably even too early to use Jim's saying, "it's 5 o'clock somewhere." Cheers! Kay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findacruise Posted August 11, 2011 #18 Share Posted August 11, 2011 It's 11 am here - Bloody Mary time! Oh well, not today. As to the original question, we like Horizon's at sail away. Had problems with Martini's because of furniture but someone said pillows have been added so that should help this vertically challenged person. I have never been a Martini person but some of the ones mentioned on this post may entice me to try. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Danneskjold Posted August 11, 2011 Author #19 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Posted this a while back on the Seadream board, but it seems to apply here also: We recently accidently discovered that jalapeno olives are great in martinis. DW announced recently one evening that she wanted a martini (at home). This has never happened before. So ol' Ragnar went to work. I asked her if she wanted it "dirty" and she replied in the affirmative. Since ol' Ragnar is naturally a filthy guy, I decided on making a "filthy" martini. Here is what I came up with, and it was the best non-standard martini we've had: - ice in shaker - splash vermouth in shaker, shake, drain out "excess" vermouth - add two jiggers, per martini, Belvedere into the shaker - shake vigorously (lid on...) - dip about 1/3 of the rim of the glass in water, stick in herbed bloody mary rim-salt (this is critical) - pour shaker contents in said glass - add liquid from garlic olive and jalapeno olive jars (slowly so it forms a sludgy look) - skewer a garlic stuffed olive and a jalapeno stuffed olive and place in glass - Enjoy! This is very visually appealing, in a filthy kind of way. It looks like the glass tipped over into dirt, and the normally clear drink looks "polluted". It tasted great! The jalapeno gets leeched out and adds just a slight bit of heat. The rim salt adds a salty/herby kick periodically. Mrs D loved it, and got quite hammered, which is very out of character for her (and very lucky for ol' Ragnar...). I think I'll name it the Dirty Ragnar :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap5211 Posted August 11, 2011 #20 Share Posted August 11, 2011 OK, I'll start it. Was just out at lunch at the Ant Hill Tavern at UC Irvine enjoying some of the 40 microbrews on tap there, and so am in "cocktail party mode". You are encouraged to post to this thread during your "cocktail hour" (whatever time that may be....). Topic is open and encouraged to change. To molify the moderators, we'll start with an on-topic question: What is your favorite venue for cocktails on the Marina-class ships? OK Ragnar! Tea Time has started a little early here in San Marcos, only as I must adhere to your rules. On the "Maiden" I searched high and low to find every bar on the ship. Even had Irish Coffees at Baristas. I never found a venue that wasn't up to my exacting standards (free booze that is), but I have to say the Casino Bar was my favorite. Maybe that was because that was where I was when the ship rolled and I cried, watching all those bottles slide off and crash onto the floor. We did not fall backwards like they did at Martinis, but I did lose my Beefeater Gimlet. The bartender took pity and waded thru the broken glass and sloppy booze to make me a replacement b4 he cleaned up the mess. What more could one ask for? We will be on the Nov. TA and B/B on the next MIA-MIA. See you there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findacruise Posted August 11, 2011 #21 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Last night was a nice friendly red and I think tonight it will be a smooth Irish Whiskey to sip. Now if I was just in Horizons or any bar on the Marina or one of the R ships. Have already copied and passed the Dirty Ragnar recipe on to someone in Atlanta who likes dirty martinis. Maybe it will become a new sensation! Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebobh Posted August 11, 2011 #22 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Following Humphrey Bogart's sentiments (who famously said he should have never switched from Scotch to martinis), my favorite has always been on my veranda while the ship is at sea with a glass of Scotch (Macallan if early, Ardbeg Corryvreckan if late). Just pondering the waves, breathing in the sea air, and looking forward to a great meal... Two fingers, neat...as Joe E Lewis, the old comic said "I don't want water with my Scotch...I'm thirsty, not dirty". Then again, knowing more than one Scotch quote might indicate a problem LOL. Bob H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findacruise Posted August 11, 2011 #23 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Following Humphrey Bogart's sentiments (who famously said he should have never switched from Scotch to martinis), my favorite has always been on my veranda while the ship is at sea with a glass of Scotch (Macallan if early, Ardbeg Corryvreckan if late). Just pondering the waves, breathing in the sea air, and looking forward to a great meal... Two fingers, neat...as Joe E Lewis, the old comic said "I don't want water with my Scotch...I'm thirsty, not dirty". Then again, knowing more than one Scotch quote might indicate a problem LOL. Bob H Scotch works, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted August 11, 2011 #24 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Posted this a while back on the Seadream board, but it seems to apply here also: We recently accidently discovered that jalapeno olives are great in martinis. DW announced recently one evening that she wanted a martini (at home). This has never happened before. So ol' Ragnar went to work. I asked her if she wanted it "dirty" and she replied in the affirmative. Since ol' Ragnar is naturally a filthy guy, I decided on making a "filthy" martini. Here is what I came up with, and it was the best non-standard martini we've had: - ice in shaker - splash vermouth in shaker, shake, drain out "excess" vermouth - add two jiggers, per martini, Belvedere into the shaker - shake vigorously (lid on...) - dip about 1/3 of the rim of the glass in water, stick in herbed bloody mary rim-salt (this is critical) - pour shaker contents in said glass - add liquid from garlic olive and jalapeno olive jars (slowly so it forms a sludgy look) - skewer a garlic stuffed olive and a jalapeno stuffed olive and place in glass - Enjoy! This is very visually appealing, in a filthy kind of way. It looks like the glass tipped over into dirt, and the normally clear drink looks "polluted". It tasted great! The jalapeno gets leeched out and adds just a slight bit of heat. The rim salt adds a salty/herby kick periodically. Mrs D loved it, and got quite hammered, which is very out of character for her (and very lucky for ol' Ragnar...). I think I'll name it the Dirty Ragnar :eek: Can't wait to try this! I love jalapenos and martinis!! Sounds like a great combination! :eek::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted August 11, 2011 #25 Share Posted August 11, 2011 oh yes, another one of Antonio's concoctions! Was Bloge (from Montenegro) still there when you sailed? I don't know him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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