Star Princess North to Alaska! Sept 10 2016

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

What a beauty! Oops- I just heard the Serenade's horn. Gotta get back to the other side of the hotel. This was the X side...

 

 

Just in time!

 

[Bimmer09]

Looking so forward to this. My mornings just got better.

 

Thank you! I should be able to post something everyday to cover all your mornings for the next few weeks.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Great! Another Norris review. Loving it so far. :)

 

Welcome! I can only tell you that there's a lot of pleasure for us on this sailing and I hope the pictures will show that.

 

Great to see you again!

 

Norris

[hollon]

We will be on the Star next May to Alaska, can't wait to see pictures, please let us know about the activities, shows, speakers, etc on the ship and what excursions you did. Let us know what you think about the Star, can't wait to hear more

[Bimmer09]

It was around this time that an old friend of 49 years appeared before me by arrangement. My friend Terry has been living in Vancouver for 39 years since we switched jobs back in January 78. I gave him a Canadian job and I got his Denmark job. We were both drummers who hung out together and encouraged each other. He would be dining with us in the 5 Sails restaurant tonight at 7 pm.

 

Now it was 5.15 and the Radiance of the Seas was turning to make her way through the many ships that wait in this harbor...

 

 

We grabbed a coffee from the hotel's Starbucks and found a quiet bench over at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel and started to catch up. I used my zoom lens to capture the Radiance as she headed towards the Lion's Gate Bridge.

 

 

We were deep in conversation when I noticed the Solstice go by and so I didn't walk across the street for a better view but just took the shot from my bench.

 

 

Next up- one of the most memorable meals of our lives in the 5 Sails

 

Oh- if I called the Radiance of the Seas "Serenade" earlier let's blame it on my lack of sleep.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Bimmer09

[Bimmer09]

Can't wait for your review. We are going to Alaska next summer. I so enjoyed your review last year on the Emerald. Stayed in the same hotel in Rome. It was perfect. Thanks for all your great information.

 

I'm so glad you took my word on Albergo del Senato as your home in Rome!

Thanks for the kind words re the Emerald review and I'm glad you have found this review early in it's telling.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We will be on the Star next May to Alaska, can't wait to see pictures, please let us know about the activities, shows, speakers, etc on the ship and what excursions you did. Let us know what you think about the Star, can't wait to hear more

 

Sit back, relax and all will be revealed! Thanks for joining us here!

Sorry about the spellchecker writing your name as "hollow". Headings can't be edited, alas.

 

Norris

Edited September 18, 2016 by Bimmer09

[Working 2 Cruise]

Sorry about the lack of sleep Norris! I hope you catch up with it!

 

However, we're a selfish group!:eek:

 

Fabulous photos, as always!

[Bimmer09]

Oh goody, another Norris review! I have so enjoyed your past ones.

 

My college roommate and I will be on the Star in February for a Hawaii cruise, so are eager to see pictures and hear all about her.

 

I emailed my roommate as soon as I saw your first post and told her "Norris is at it again! Come check out the link!"

 

We will be reading along eagerly, no doubt with many others of your fans.

 

Thanks again for your wonderful reviews - I always appreciate the humor, length, and great pictures.

 

Welcome catwoman and thanks for your enthusiasm. I forsee a lot of Star in your future!

 

It's early days for the review-not many have read it yet but of course some people may have been at work, as I will be starting tomorrow.

 

The excursions are the main draw for me in Alaska moreso than the ship but I enjoyed my time on the Star.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Norris

[rdsqrl]

Ooo, ice porn and meece! This is gonna be great!

 

[nanabananna]

Thank you for posting a wonderful review. I am anticipating reading more of your cruise.

It seems as you both enjoyed the Star and Alaska very much.

 

We are sailing next May Southbound and thanks to you, I am more excited!

[Bimmer09]

Ooo, ice porn and meece! This is gonna be great!

 

 

Annie-welcome but come back a little later when the FOOD PORN is unveiled.

Seriously great cooking by an Austrian chef...in DROOL-O-VISION.

 

NORRIS

[CRLess]

Welcome back...looking forward to the review!

[travelling8]

Norris, I'm joining you from the Celebrity board and am looking forward to your review. Alaska is on our bucket list and you may help us jump over to try our first Princess cruise.

 

Kim 😀

[Bimmer09]

I emailed the 5 Sails the day I booked the cruise back in late March but they don't take reservations that far in advance but said that when bookings opened in July they would remember me-and they did.

 

I brought Terry up to our room to meet Carol before dinner. She is very fond of him as he is so positive and speaks ill of no one. He is retired from drumming but helps out at a local hospital which is another reason to like him.

 

Up in the room the ships were gone...

 

 

 

We went downstairs (via elevator!) to the 5 Sails

 

We were greeted very warmly and led through the restaurant to a little room with just 3 tables with glass walls and big windows. No other diners would join us during our two hours of feasting. I bantered with the hostess on the way in so the mood was light and jolly. We had looked at the menu on line and both agreed that we could be tempted by every dish described. Expectations were high as we ate here in 2012 when we joined Diamond Princess.

 

 

Drinks were ordered-soft drinks for the others and a nice Argentinian Malbec for me, served in a good glass. The tasting pour was such that I said to the waiter-keep it coming!

 

The waiter, Shedly, a man of Turkish descent who didn't try and sell me a carpet, throughout the meal was a model of perfection. Attentive but never obtrusive. The co owner, wife of the Chef, came by during the meal to see if everything was to our liking. I was licking a plate at the time so just gave a thumbs up over the rim.

 

Carol surveys the many culinary delights...

 

 

On to the food...and first an amuse bouche of tuna tartare with some hot butternut squash soup. Neither of these came from a kitchen but rather from the gods on Mt. Olympus. The soup bowl was too narrow for me to get my face into, alas.

 

Amuse bouche

 

[JimmyVWine]

I'm definitely along for the voyage. Looking forward to your usual surplus of excellent photos.

[Bimmer09]

Next to the table..

.

 

My lobster bisque which had some delicious sweet chunks of lobster hiding under the surface. My face did fit this bowl.

 

 

Carol's Austrian Ravioli with spinach and ricotta

 

 

Terry had a salad of spring greens

 

 

I did a happy dance when my entree arrived...

 

Veal tenderloins wrapped in pancetta with lobster, tiny potatoes, sweetbreads and mushrooms.

 

 

This was an out-of-body experience.

 

WAIT! THERE'S MORE...

[Astro Flyer]

We haven't sailed on the Star since 2010 & looking forward to enjoying your experiences before we sail on the Star early next year roundtrip LA to Hawaii. :)

[Pmorton3360]

Hello Norris. Glad to see you and Carol are well. Looking forward to the new review. Always enjoy. Was in Alaska on a land tour for 10 days. Spent 5 days in Seward for my niece's wedding.

Leaving for Barcelona for our Med cruise in 10 days. Using some of your suggestions. I know my pictures will not compare, but will give it a shot. Pam

[MGnut]

Great! I was having serious Norris & Carol withdrawals!

 

We board the Star on Nov. 10 for a Mexico/Sea of Cortez cruise, so I'm interested in how she is holding up.

[Bimmer09]

Carol and Terry both ordered

 

Slow roasted Alaskan Halibut with Morel mushrooms, mashed potatoes and asparagus

 

 

Carol's dessert was Lemon Mille Feuilles with raspberry coulis and strawberry

 

For Terry the Apple Strudel with Pistachio Ice cream and an Apple confit terrine

 

 

I devoured the " Bailey's Opera Slice" with creme anglais, chocolate, hazelnut and caramel

 

 

The little edible bag at left was filled with molten chocolate. The hazelnut was covered in caramel on the end of that long edible caramel stick.

 

These desserts should be declared illegal.

[dickinson]

Enjoying your review and pictures!

[G&Gcruisers]

Yay, all is right with the world, another Norris review. We have been wondering where you and Carol were vacationing this Summer.

We are considering an Alaskan cruise on the Star so, we're anxious for your review.

We haven't cruised to Alaska yet but, we have been there and know that everywhere you look is an award winning photo. So, really looking forward to your fabulous photography.

OMG, the Lobster Bisque!

Settling in for the extensive review.

Margie

[txwriter]

Going on the Star SB next May. It's been hard finding reviews of this ship, so I'm looking forward to reading this.

 

Plus, your reviews are always a delight to read.

[cdngrl]

i'm enjoying this already, its so difficult to be patient and wait for more!