Almost live - Food Blog - Serenade of the Seas

[Mack704]

Room service coffee was again pretty good this morning. They brought us two large pots. They must have mis-interpreted the note Sharon wrote on the door hanger. Anyhoo I had two full cups worth. I love my morning java!

 

Our plan was to skip breakfast and go right to lunch. So after our showers and a little lazying around, we went looking for food.

 

Our choices were the Windjammer again, the Park Cafe, or the MDR. We had decided to do the PC, but trucked down to the MDR just to see if the lunch menu would attract us in that direction. It did not.

 

So up to the Park Cafe. (you know, the venue with those amazing Kimmelweck sandwiches). So, I got one of those babies. Guess what? Fair at best. Didn’t like the roll, so I knife and forked the roast beef.

 

They also had various other types of sandwiches there. i.e. paninis, pitas, and 7-11 type of egg salad and tuna sandwiches on focaccia.

 

Sharon got a grilled cheese panini and a veggie pita. She gave both a thumbs up. After only eating a couple bites of the beef (off the roll), I got a tuna and an egg salad. I’m happy to report they were both good, to the point I’d get them again.

 

Dessert time. We went down to the WJ for dessert. She got some of the banana Boston cream pie they were serving from a giant baking pan near the entrance. My choice was a burger (again no roll). Don’t know what it is, but those WJ burgers are tasty.

 

More later,

 

Harvey

[Mack704]

Without hesitation, we chose the MDR for dinner tonight. The Windjammer is losing its appeal for dinner. Our plan was to see a movie in the main theatre. After the movie, I went for some more pampering in the salon and after that dinner.

 

When we reached the hostess, we again requested Welkin’s section. Not a minute later we were seated at the same table we had 2 nights ago. (We’ve had no dinner reservations - just walk up when we’re ready. So far so good).

 

He said no recommendations tonight. It’s all good, he said. We both had caprese salad for our app. Decent enough. And we both had eggplant parm. Very good, like excellent.

 

We didn’t do dessert until after this evening’s entertainment. At Park Cafe Sharon got a piece of chocolate cake and I had a couple pieces of pizza. The pizza was good and so was the cake.

 

Tomorrow we’re going on a food tour in Saint John, New Brunswick. I’ll tell you all about it after we get back to our cabin.

 

More tomorrow,

 

Harvey

[Mack704]

This morning room service got our coffee request almost perfect:

One large pot of coffee, two little pitchers of what we thought was milk, (rather than 1/2 & 1/2), plenty of yellows and blues. But no spoons. So we stirred with the knives that came with forks, wrapped up in WJ napkins.

 

And it was good, albeit strong, but yes, it was good.

 

Our food tour excursion was due to start at 10:15. So we were in the terminal by 10:00. There were 11 of us on the tour.

 

Two pastry stops were included in the four stops. They both gave us tails.

 

First place we got beaver tails. For those who don’t know, beaver tails are a flat pastry with many different toppings. Ours were topped with a maple glaze and a drizzle of chocolate.

 

The other pastry was called lobster tails. It’s a croissant filled with pastry cream, in the shape of a lobster tail.

 

Both were the highlight of the tour. I mean YUM YUM!

 

We got the lobster tail inside the Saint John City Market. We also went to a seafood place inside this market.

 

They gave us three different samples. Candied salmon on cucumber slices. Then hot smoked salmon on a piece of baguette. And last but not least a lobster roll slider. All were pretty damn good. Glad that stop was included.

 

If I had to pick my favorite there, it would be the hot smoked salmon. One of our group bought some before we left. And she shared it with us at our last stop.

 

Our last stop was at a little restaurant that specializes in farm to table cuisine. She gave us, (after a long history lesson), a long plank version of charcuterie: salami, pepperoni, two cheeses, pickles, carrot sticks, pickled egg, and some brown bread, with a honey mustard dipping sauce.

 

Wasn’t bad. Became much better when a member of our group passed out the hot smoked salmon she bought earlier at the market.

 

Dinner and a Motown review are on the agenda tonight.

 

More later,

 

Harvey

[Mack704]

We went to dinner at an early 6:00. We had practically no wait at the host/hostess stand and were taken once again to Welkin’s section, as requested.

 

He talked up the menu. But we ended up both getting French onion soup. Tasted good. Warms the cockles.

DW’s entre’ was filet of sole, and I did the lamb chops.

 

Sharon OK’d her sole. But my lamb chops were incredible. Out of character. Absolutely superb!

 

The plan was to have an early dinner and then a snack a 2 or 3 hours later, which we did. We asked for and received, from Park Cafe, our own pepperoni 🍕

 

Like the burgers. Can’t explain it. Pizza was good!

 

More tomorrow,

 

Harvey

[Mack704]

Room service, this morning, was perfect. For the first time this week, they got everything right. The coffee was decent.

 

They brought spoons, the correct sweeteners, and napkins; two little pitchers of 1/2 & 1/2. Even the apple juice and orange juice we ordered.

 

Our Portland foodie tour was due to start at 9:45, so around 9ish we headed out of our stateroom to the meeting point at the end of the pier.

 

Our first stop was at an organic grocery store and mini cafe, where the order of the day was soup. A good choice, I thought, since it was a little rainy and chilly outside.

 

The soups were originals. Sharon had what tasted like veggie chili. It was really good. I had what they called Greek chicken and noodles. The kale in it made it a little bitter. It was fair.

 

Next two stops were sort of combined. We went to an Italian market and got pizza. We took the pizza to go, however, and had it with beer and soda samples at a Portland brewery.

 

The pizza was really good, as were the beverages at the brewery. The next and last stop was at an unusual donut shop. The made their donuts with potato. We, not the group, took ours to go.

 

We tipped our guide and bid farewell to the group and headed for a lobster roll restaurant that was recommended by a couple we met in the donut shop.

 

The lobster roll tasted like most of the lobster rolls we’ve had in New England and Canada. Ok but not to die for.

After that we headed back to the ship. My hips were giving out because of all the walking we’ve done this week.

 

DW and I just a moment ago shared that donut. And it was, in fact, delicious. Next time we’re in Portland we will be going to that donut shop again. For sure.

 

More later,

 

Harvey

[Mack704]

Our game plan for this evening was to have a snack, then the evening’s entertainment, then to dinner.

 

About 5:00 we went up to the Diamond Lounge, to see if the appetizers were appealing. They were not. So we decided to hit Latte-tudes for a coffee and to see what they had to nosh.

 

We still had plenty of punches left on our coffee cards. So we each got a mocha and a snack. I got a tuna wrap and Sharon got a brownie. My wrap was a spot hitter. I liked it a lot. After one bite DW threw the brownie away.

 

We took our coffees with us into the theatre. After the show, we made a small donation to the Casino fund, and then headed to dinner. It’s lobter tail formal night.

 

After my duck and port wine terrine and Sharon’s mushrooms in puff pastry, Welkin brought us lots of lobster tails, including three for me. (They’re small).

 

We both like our apps. Lobster was a different story. My first one was ok, but the other two not so much. Sharon liked hers.

 

 

I sent my plate back with the remaining lobster tails and ordered prime rib. Not the greatest, but after 1/2 to 2/3rds of the PR, I gave that back too.

 

 

I got sugar free coconut cake for dessert. Meh. Sharon’s Grand Mariner soufflé, on the other hand was great. Yum!

 

 

More tomorrow,

 

 

Harvey

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thanks for the updates!

[Mack704]

Well, this morning, room service slid a little backwards. The coffee was again a bit on the muddy side. No 1/2 & 1/2, just milk this time.

 

Two little juice glasses full, plus a milk drink box. And two small pots of coffee instead of one large pot.

 

It was a little too muddy for Sharon. After one sip she dumped it. I made do, and had two cups worth.

 

We decided not to tender to Bar Harbor. We both are pooped from all the walking we’ve done in the previous ports. So we’re spending the last day on the ship.

 

So a bit after noon we invaded the Windjammer for lunch. Today they were carving suckling pig.

 

I had some of that, some potato wedges, some cheese pasta thing, some grilled veggies, and of course a burger (no roll). All, good enough to eat. For dessert, I had fried chicken, which was also good.

 

Sharon had a hotdog (no roll), some grilled veggies, and potato wedges. She was pleased with her choices.

 

For her dessert, a peach crumble, which didn’t appeal to her once she got it back to the table. And some vanilla soft serve, which she raved about.

 

The last supper is tonight!

 

More later,

 

Harvey

[PhoenixCruiser]

Hope you enjoy your last super Harvey!

[Alstongrove]

How was Serenade of the Sea ???Looking to book over Thanksgiving !!Hasn't been refurbished yet?? How's the wifi Son need accessibility for work ?? We have cruised RCCL before but on ver new ships ??? Thanks Any other info would be greatly appreciated

 

 

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[Sail Fish 7]

Hubby and I were on her for the September 24th sailing and absolutely loved her. I think she is going in for refurbishment soon but you would never know. Last year we were on the Oasis and Enchantment Of The Seas and was so disappointed in the appearance. We started loosing faith in Royal Carribean after those two sailings and how they kept their spotless ships. The Seranade has a great crew as we were wowed by all.

The wifi on the other hand was our only disappointment. We had the vroom package and it was so slow especially in the evening and on the first sea day. It did get a little bit better latter in the week. Hubby heard another guest complaining at Guest Services about the wifi. Even the slow wifi, would never discourage me from sailing on her again. This sailing, achieved our Diamond status.

[nbhwarrior]

thanks Mack on the seranade in january

[pjlee3333]

How was Serenade of the Sea ???Looking to book over Thanksgiving !!Hasn't been refurbished yet?? How's the wifi Son need accessibility for work ?? We have cruised RCCL before but on ver new ships ??? Thanks Any other info would be greatly appreciated

 

 

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Drydock is November 1-13. The thanksgiving cruise will be the 2nd after drydock.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Host Clarea
typo

[janetjulie]

Mack, Thanks for posting your food blog for the Serenade. Found it very helpful as I will be on board next week. You mentioned having a coffee card. Could you get any size/type of coffee for one punch?