Emperor Norton Posted August 15, 2013 Author #126 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Constanta, Romania La Reserve, Discovery Menu Dinner started out with an amuse bouche [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-TQspFBz/0/XL/DSC_2174-XL.jpg[/IMG] Next up was Lobster and marscapone pancake with baby carrot emulsion and rock chive cress [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-VGrhvGZ/0/XL/DSC_2175-XL.jpg[/IMG] Followed by Cream of porcini with sauteed duck foie gras bites and croutons [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-F7tnc8p/0/XL/DSC_2177-XL.jpg[/IMG] Pumpkin ravioli with crushed amaretto biscotti was the contentious course. It seemed overly sweet given what preceded it and what would follow it. The wine pairing didn't work for me as I felt it contrasted too much with the dish and I plain didn't care for the wine itself (Novelty Hill Viognier, Columbia Valley Washington State) [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-ThWkgRP/0/XL/DSC_2178-XL.jpg[/IMG] The next course was Bay Scallops and Jamón Ibérico “Pata Negra” over Tarbais Bean Cream (sadly I couldn't find where they were hiding the rest of the Jamon) [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-6PWsSP9/0/XL/DSC_2182-XL.jpg[/IMG] Next up was a sous vide dish 72-Hour Slow Braised Short Rib with “Gnocchi au Jus" [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-RXCzQsn/0/XL/DSC_2183-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 15, 2013 Author #127 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Constanta, Romania La Reserve, Discovery Menu The Chef making the Mille Feuille [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-fmGqZWP/0/XL/DSC_2186-XL.jpg[/IMG] A.O.C Brie de Meaux on Toast with Raisin-Onion Compote and Quince Jelly [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-FJ9P99s/0/XL/DSC_2187-XL.jpg[/IMG] Raspberry Caramelized Mille Feuille with Madagascan Vanilla Cream [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Constanta-Romania-July-2013/i-BQzF2cd/0/XL/DSC_2189-XL.jpg[/IMG] The dinner went well, like the first one. However a few days later the concierge called to ask what we thought about the dinner. Since management had seemed to have zero interest in anything else that we said the voicemail was ignored. A day later about 2200 theres a knock on the door - it's our butler who wanted to get an answer to the concierges question re: the dinner. What. The... So they ignore guest issues but when they want to know something they'll send your butler after you? The next day I told the concierge what I thought of the dinner and that was the end of that. I'm not sure why they were suddenly so hot and bothered to get feedback and they never explained why. I can only guess that perhaps someone gave feedback that makes my review look like a positive land of kittens, unicorns and rainbows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted August 15, 2013 #128 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Now, I find that in addition to being an over-the-top food critic! LOL...you do have a great redeeming feature--you play Trivia! I found that Trivia on the Riviera was awful as they had it in the theatre? Do they still?? If so, how do you work it with this type of seating? I gave up! Your tongue-in-cheek comments are great after a brief adjustment period! Your expertise in photography is fabulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 15, 2013 Author #129 Share Posted August 15, 2013 [quote name='Caroldoll']Now, I find that in addition to being an over-the-top food critic! LOL...you do have a great redeeming feature--you play Trivia! I found that Trivia on the Riviera was awful as they had it in the theatre? Do they still?? If so, how do you work it with this type of seating? I gave up! Your tongue-in-cheek comments are great after a brief adjustment period! Your expertise in photography is fabulous.[/QUOTE] The early trivia was held in the theater, which was marginally better than the evening one in Martinis. Other than Horizons I can't think of a better place to host the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graypanther Posted August 15, 2013 #130 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Your wine tours were organized by the ship? You didn't say, but I assume interesting and not worth the $$. Please, more food comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted August 15, 2013 #131 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I was thinking Horizons myself. It is certainly large enough to use one corner. Thanks for the info. I was hoping they would change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prada Cowboy Posted August 15, 2013 #132 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Thank you of your honest report! Im spoiled myself and after a company is promoting itself within the best of food category and service, this is tremendously horrific what happens to you on board! I love CC when people with no clue bash others about their experiences! Im booked myself on the Riviera and I do expect a lot, I just hope provision out of Miami will be better! But as well the cooking of certain dishes is just off and the we do not care about you philosophy of the officers are a big huge NO GO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatherInFlorida Posted August 16, 2013 #133 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Took me the day, on and off, to read through and view all your pictures which (as I said on another thread) are beyond amazing. Not sure if you are a professional photographer, but your photos suggest that you are and if you aren't, you should be. Thank you for taking the time to post them all. While I seriously delight in your caustic style, I still believe your criticisms have to be a bit exaggerated and you just enjoy taking that angle rather than the more mundane rave we tend to see here on CC. Still, it's obvious you were less than thrilled and it's beyond me how that could happen. After all, we were on the same ship just 6 months apart ... could it change that much? I've only been on one Riviera cruise in the Caribbean so we shall see. But I have a feeling I won't change my mind. I found Oceania's food and service to be exemplary. From the moment we boarded until we disembarked we loved every single moment and can't wait to board again in December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted August 16, 2013 #134 Share Posted August 16, 2013 [quote name='Prada Cowboy'] Im booked myself on the Riviera and I do expect a lot, I just hope provision out of Miami will be better! But as well the cooking of certain dishes is just off and the we do not care about you philosophy of the officers are a big huge NO GO![/quote] I, for one, would very much like to hear from you after your cruise on the Riviera. Please share your experiences with us. I hope that you will not be as disappointed as the OP was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beardedshark Posted August 16, 2013 #135 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I was on a cruise in the caribbean in feb, and the trivia was in horizons - it worked very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted August 16, 2013 #136 Share Posted August 16, 2013 The Trivia in the theater just doesn't work for me. I have about six segments scheduled on the Riviera starting in December. I would be very unhappy to not be able to enjoy Trivia...can't enjoy in the theater. Glad to hear that they did use Horizons on your trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #137 Share Posted August 16, 2013 [quote name='beardedshark']I was on a cruise in the caribbean in feb, and the trivia was in horizons - it worked very well[/QUOTE] Wish they'd done that for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #138 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I know it's anathema on CC but all the tours I did on this cruise were ships tours. By the end of the second segment I couldn't find anyone who was happy with the ships tours and several who were hard at work on trying to get refunds (granted I only talked to ~20 people who commented one way or the other). I did enjoy the Ephesus with an expert. If every tour was that size and that quality I'd say stick to what the ship offers. As for the wine tasting tours - Between a Bulgarian F&B staff member a bar member from Romania I was told that the wineries we were visiting in their respective countries were not in the best wine growing regions and weren't producing quality examples of their wines. I think the problem being that the good wineries were in the opposite side of the countries. Having done them I'd skip them. The Bulgarian tour was of a faux-cellar and had very little information other than "California Grapes" and "California oak" The Romanian tour was slightly better in that you actually went into wine country and into an actual vineyard. Something to note that is different from wine tours in the US and France was that neither tour described the process. There wasn't any mention of growing/harvesting/maturing/what terroir is or what it adds. I've been on more than enough tours to have memorized that bit, but it would've been interesting to hear if there was anything they did differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #139 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine Today started with a noisy exit from the ship. The band was a nice touch, but the roughly idling bus engines added some unappealing noise [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-QxQwSFg/0/XL/DSC_2190-XL.jpg[/IMG] I did a walking tour of Odessa today. I think some people didn't read the description or difficulty and thought it would be a mostly bus tour. At our first stop I had flashbacks to St. Petersburg [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-cpj339P/0/XL/DSC_2199-XL.jpg[/IMG] Then thought perhaps Florida [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-CM9cMQB/0/XL/DSC_2195-XL.jpg[/IMG] After stopping to see some candyland flats [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-592KSrk/0/XL/DSC_2196-XL.jpg[/IMG] We wandered down some empty streets [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-SqDLQtQ/0/XL/DSC_2198-XL.jpg[/IMG] And paused to get our bearings [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-SQRBmWn/0/XL/DSC_2202-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #140 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine Before moving on someone had a jonesing for sushi so we had to wait for their fix. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-pDHTtTW/0/XL/DSC_2201-XL.jpg[/IMG] (Yes I'm kidding about the sushi bit) After a brief visit with the Duke de Richelieu [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-7dtZgVk/0/XL/DSC_2203-XL.jpg[/IMG] It was our turn to go back to a black and white era where Russian sailors were given daily rations of maggots. Yum. Or the Potemkin steps. You can see the ship and cruise terminal in the background [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-btxMFqg/0/XL/DSC_2205-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-TM6M6gC/0/XL/DSC_2206-XL.jpg[/IMG] We were then off to stroll in the shade [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-xmfm3wh/0/XL/DSC_2207-XL.jpg[/IMG] Where we saw this random gravesite (sorry, horrendous reflection of the glass so no stellar view of the interior) [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-LfLBSkh/0/XL/DSC_2215-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #141 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Starting with this brief stop I found a new game to play, can you guess what it might be? [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-Tq6ffzv/0/XL/DSC_2213-XL.jpg[/IMG] You're all familiar with "Where's Waldo" game? After this I started playing the "Where was Pushkin" game. It finally ended in Sochi. About 100 or so yards after that previous spotting of where he had been, I found him again. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-srJ2DZT/0/X2/DSC_2217-X2.jpg[/IMG] Right in front of their city hall [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-ZGD377P/0/XL/DSC_2219-XL.jpg[/IMG] It got confusing trying to find where he stayed next [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-LX7tp3x/0/XL/DSC_2222-XL.jpg[/IMG] But, he does have a nice cafe/restaurant in Moscow if you're ever headed that way [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-DvsBVCt/0/XL/CA_06061307345013-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #142 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine After stopping to look at the outside of the Archaeology museum [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-f8KjjNf/0/XL/DSC_2225-XL.jpg[/IMG] I had another flashback, this time to the Grand Masters Palace [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-c447njb/0/XL/DSC_2226-XL.jpg[/IMG] From there it was a brief walk to the Opera house (which again we saw from the outside -_-) [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-CHqVLtH/0/XL/DSC_2228-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-jCR3GK5/0/XL/DSC_2229-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-XFxkcvN/0/XL/DSC_2236-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-zM4Nkj8/0/XL/DSC_2236-2-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #143 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine From the opera house we bussed through town past an eerie amusement park that appeared to be abandoned and to a Naval memorial. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-fpm9HdJ/0/XL/DSC_2237-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-88tNPM6/0/XL/DSC_2239-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-S6wkrWx/0/XL/DSC_2240-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-TzcZbMq/0/XL/DSC_2242-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-bcHH9cX/0/XL/DSC_2246-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-Wmj8ZGN/0/XL/DSC_2247-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #144 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine At the church the guide told us that the photography fee had been paid for us (it seems that churches here either totally disallow photography or will allow it provided you pay them). After being given shooting rules we were let loose. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-NjVvRGV/0/XL/DSC_2248-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-QX8bPVs/0/XL/DSC_2249-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-MpWkDnd/0/XL/DSC_2250-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-CcqHJ5P/0/XL/DSC_2251-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-kQSvkwM/0/XL/DSC_2252-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #145 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Odessa, Ukraine Outside the church they had a little local market up and running [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-sjkQVm7/0/XL/DSC_2255-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-Q5ph3Fp/0/XL/DSC_2256-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-n227zBT/0/XL/DSC_2258-XL.jpg[/IMG] And then the cat said to scat [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Odessa-Ukraine-July-2013/i-JM67hBb/0/XL/DSC_2262-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #146 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Sevastopol, Ukraine This morning I was woken up by these pests [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-3FFDf5z/0/XL/IMG_20130729_080738-XL.jpg[/IMG] After tendering over here [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-DchFCVM/0/XL/DSC_2266-XL.jpg[/IMG] Looking back had a nice view of the ship [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-BZcjR2D/0/XL/DSC_2264-XL.jpg[/IMG] The view was so good you could even see the Brazilian Navy [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-dDr8qrx/0/XL/DSC_2265-XL.jpg[/IMG] It turns out that the previous day was Naval forces day an Putin had been in town to celebrate. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-mSrj9K3/0/XL/DSC_2268-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-xSGkLGQ/0/XL/DSC_2269-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #147 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Sevastopol, Ukraine Looking around the harbor you saw the usual suspects for a naval base [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-dB2WNw3/0/XL/DSC_2270-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-xJ2mXtX/0/XL/DSC_2272-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-48Sh4X3/0/XL/DSC_2276-XL.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-SFtw5Z2/0/XL/DSC_2275-XL.jpg[/IMG] Without knowing the water temperature there I don't know if this qualifies as a polar bear club or just a swim group [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-X3BdNq3/0/XL/DSC_2271-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Picantins Posted August 16, 2013 #148 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I'm really enjoying your photos, comments and criticisms. I'm relieved that I had cancelled a cruise with Oceania last winter and decided to stick with Seabourn where I had a fabulous time. It's too bad you weren't with us on the Quest last month, Seabourn organised a private concert at Ephesus at sundown, it was truly magical. BTW, you mentioned that you could not taste the bourbon in your bourbon profiteroles a few pages back, that's because "bourbon" is an appellation for a type of vanilla bean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #149 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Sevastopol, Ukraine Around the harbor were a lot of memorials Memorial for a Hero city [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-2ZMj6PW/0/XL/DSC_2277-XL.jpg[/IMG] Monument to the scuttled ships [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-3RxNQ8w/0/XL/DSC_2274-XL.jpg[/IMG] Statue to Admiral Pavel Nakhimov [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-8Vj8QcX/0/XL/DSC_2281-XL.jpg[/IMG] World War 2 memorial. In contrast to US memorials that list the names of the lost service members, the Soviet monuments to the Patriotic War list entire regiments. [IMG]http://joee.smugmug.com/Other-1/Riviera/Sevastopol-Ukraine-August-2013/i-5LB3Fc3/0/XL/DSC_2279-XL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperor Norton Posted August 16, 2013 Author #150 Share Posted August 16, 2013 [quote name='Les Picantins']I'm really enjoying your photos, comments and criticisms. I'm relieved that I had cancelled a cruise with Oceania last winter and decided to stick with Seabourn where I had a fabulous time. It's too bad you weren't with us on the Quest last month, Seabourn organised a private concert at Ephesus at sundown, it was truly magical. BTW, you mentioned that you could not taste the bourbon in your bourbon profiteroles a few pages back, that's because "bourbon" is an appellation for a type of vanilla bean.[/QUOTE] I wasn't sure about that - I remembered Tahitian, and Madagascar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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