Prima / Live / Solo / Feb - 5-12 - 2023...

[BohJang]

13 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

That crappy margarita was $22... I'm glad I didn't order another one...

DIsappointing.  You can make a fabulous margarita at home

[sid_9169]

Well, I'm home now after what I could only describe as a magnificent dinner... (Well, other than the expensive margarita) When the bill arrived, I said "dang, I had no idea that drink was going to be so much"... He said "you asked if we had a GREAT margarita"... Anyhoo, I didn't make a huge deal about it, but he said he would take it off the bill. It still ended up being over $200, which I was expecting. Anyhoo, I'm squeezing some limes at home now for some REAL margs... 

 

But, back to dinner... After the shrimp and crab was finished, everything else showed up all at once. The entire table was nearly filled with food...

 

 

[sid_9169]

I'll just let the pictures do the talking for a minute. 20oz prime bone in ribeye, lobster mashed potatoes with a full one pound lobster worth of meat, Brussels sprouts and mushrooms, and probably my favorite, the giant onion rings with their home made sauce...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

Awhile back, I realized that my margarita game, while strong could be better... I've been just measuring and stirring the ingredients in a glass prior to pouring them over ice into the glass. Well, over the holidays I ordered a really nice Boston shaker, and leveled up. You wouldn't even believe how much better my drinks are now that they're getting a "proper shake "...

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

... CC is doubling the posts again...

 

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by sid_9169

[sid_9169]

And, of course, a REAL margarita has to be made with fresh squozen limes, and this giant Zulay citrus press can decimate an entire batch quickly... 

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

But, at the end of the day, great ingredients are what make a great margarita... Don Julio Reposado, Cointreau, and Combier with a small dash of agave syrup are my "go to" items... And, the result, which took me years to perfect, is pure "nirvana in a glass"...

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

It's still doubling the posts... Maybe Cruise Critic has the same tech department as Virgin Voyages?...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by sid_9169

[ceilidh1]

8 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

And, of course, a REAL margarita has to be made with fresh squozen limes, and this giant Zulay citrus press can decimate an entire batch quickly... 

 

 

 

Dang, you have a nice kitchen!

[aztekpm]

20 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Well, I'm home now after what I could only describe as a magnificent dinner... (Well, other than the expensive margarita) When the bill arrived, I said "dang, I had no idea that drink was going to be so much"... He said "you asked if we had a GREAT margarita"... Anyhoo, I didn't make a huge deal about it, but he said he would take it off the bill. It still ended up being over $200, which I was expecting. Anyhoo, I'm squeezing some limes at home now for some REAL margs... 

 

But, back to dinner... After the shrimp and crab was finished, everything else showed up all at once. The entire table was nearly filled with food...

 

 

 

Good thing you weren't at the bar! Looks delicious and looking forward to the review!

[dmet0225]

26 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Awhile back, I realized that my margarita game, while strong could be better... I've been just measuring and stirring the ingredients in a glass prior to pouring them over ice into the glass. Well, over the holidays I ordered a really nice Boston shaker, and leveled up. You wouldn't even believe how much better my drinks are now that they're getting a "proper shake "...

 

 

 

Here I am quite thrilled with purchasing one of these what I’m calling “drink shakers”from Carnival last summer.  I had no idea that a shaker could make a difference in drinks.

[sid_9169]

15 minutes ago, dmet0225 said:

Here I am quite thrilled with purchasing one of these what I’m calling “drink shakers”from Carnival last summer.  I had no idea that a shaker could make a difference in drinks.

It makes all the difference in the World... 

[dmet0225]

I took the easy way out and inserted a picture off the internet.  This one is much better, and one I just took myself of the very shaker in my pantry.  

[dmet0225]

2 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

It makes all the difference in the World... 

I seriously didn’t need to buy it on my Vista cruise last summer, because the only drinks I make at home, other than my beloved beers, are gin and tonics.  No shakers needed.  

[sid_9169]

Stepped out for a minute to finish off the cigar that I started last night... Another one of my filthy habits that I recently reaquired... Not nearly as flavorful as it was yesterday, but I didn't want to let a fifteen dollar stick go to waste. Mixing up another margarita now, and wishing that I didn't have to go to work tomorrow. Or, ever, actually... We're shorthanded this week, and we've been busier than ever, but I guess that's a good thing for job security. Only two more days until I get this thing "on the road" for real real...

[Sea Viewer]

Just found this live, already on page 4 have some catching up to do!

 Haven't cruised NCL in a while interested on your thoughts. Back to page 1 now to catch up.

 

M

[AmyJA]

Love the shakers! I do have a problem with them. i.e. I own about a dozen. Below is my favorite, that was owned by a friends father.

 

 

[sid_9169]

Soon enough, in early October 2022, my final payment was fast approaching. My Delta American Express card had recently offered me 6 months of 0% payments on whatever amount I wished to charge, so I took advantage of that. While I was in the checkout process, they also gave me the option to upgrade to Free At Sea Plus (FASUP), which includes the Premium Plus Beverage Package, 2 additional Specialty Dinners, and Unlimited WiFi for the cruise. I was going to purchase the PPBP anyway, so this allowed me to roll it all into a package deal for a significant discount. I had already received X2 Specialty Dining Package with my initial booking, plus my 2 Platinum Dinners. Now, I’ll be able to enjoy a total of SIX Specialty Dinners on a 7 night sailing!...

 

[Saint Greg]

4 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Honestly, Port Canaveral is one of my least favorite places to sail from. No great bars or restaurants to visit prior to cruising, but I’ll try to find something decent to do for one afternoon / evening. 

 

Yes! It’s 8th out of 8 for me. Were hotel prices insane when you booked? Everything was going to be 400+ for me. And I’m talking raddison at $400. Good hotels 500-600. I’m flying in on embarkation day. 

[sid_9169]

12 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

Yes! It’s 8th out of 8 for me. Were hotel prices insane when you booked? Everything was going to be 400+ for me. And I’m talking raddison at $400. Good hotels 500-600. I’m flying in on embarkation day. 

I paid $291 for the Springhill Suites booked over five months ago... 

 

Yes, the high hotel prices in addition to the lack of anything good to do make it my least favorite embarkation port...

 

 

[sid_9169]

I should've probably stopped after the margaritas, but I'm going to do one more nice shot of Don Julio Reposado before crashing for my next to last day at work before vacation...

 

 

[Saint Greg]

5 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

I paid $291 for the Springhill Suites booked over five months ago... 

 

Yes, the high hotel prices in addition to the lack of anything good to do make it my least favorite embarkation port...

 

 

Yeah then I add in the the long potentially expensive airport ride and the port traffic. The intercom in the port was horrible when I was there on Mardi Gras. A lot of reasons to not like Port Canaveral. It would be fine if it were drivable. But having to fly in..not good. Unless you’re going for Disney. Otherwise you’re paying disney prices for…not Disney.

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by Saint Greg

[RenoNanaOz]

1 hour ago, dmet0225 said:

Here I am quite thrilled with purchasing one of these what I’m calling “drink shakers”from Carnival last summer.  I had no idea that a shaker could make a difference in drinks.

I just got mine last week, about to give it a whirl.

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, dmet0225 said:

Here I am quite thrilled with purchasing one of these what I’m calling “drink shakers”from Carnival last summer.  I had no idea that a shaker could make a difference in drinks.

Those are a great deal. I’ve sold a lot of them just sitting at the bar. I should get commission.

[Webecruzen]

Thank you Sid for the wonderful trip we get to take along with you through your review. They are always the best.