Taking Winnie on a Wonder Cruise - A February Mexican Riviera Trip - All wrapped up 6/14

[franandaj]

Day 2

I set the clock on my phone forward since we would be going back one time zone on our first port day. The only way I could figure out how to do it was to disable the automatic time detection, plus it was in the 11PM hour, so when I set it forward I also had to change the date forward.

Throughout the night we got up several times to go potty. Fran is still having trouble getting in and out of bed after her last hospital stay, and with the choppiness of the seas. I didn't feel comfortable with her walking across the room without my help to steady her. We must have woken up three or four times in the night, pretty much every two hours.

The last time she woke me up was at 7AM, so I probably got less than six hours of sleep that night. When she woke me, I realized that I was about to miss the sunrise. I got her situated and then took a few snaps with my phone. The pictures from the big camera come out much better, but these weren’t bad.

It was instantly clear to both of us that we had reached calmer waters. The ship was traveling very fast through the night, most likely in an attempt to get out of the storm before the second day of the cruise. It was also considerably warmer.

I got her situated back in bed, got dressed and headed up to deck 9. Real coffee was my destination. I'm not one to drink your standard colored water. At home I brew my Keurig on the most concentrated strength, and it takes 3 pods just to get my one cup of coffee.

I love the ship in the early morning. The crew are cleaning everything up super clean. Hardly anyone is about.

This is the adult pool area, not very busy in the morning either.

The Cove Cafe is where you go to get premium coffee. It's pricey, but I think I'm worth it!

I got an Americano with cream and a few tiny pastries (just to take off the hunger edge). We didn't want to spoil our appetites.

Fran asked for a cup of hot chocolate and I was pleasantly surprised by the tasty nectar dispensed from this machine!

The elevators got fancy since the last time I was on the ship.

Back in the room I caught up on my TR notes while sipping coffee.

Finally it was time to get ready for Palo where we would be having Brunch with our crew in the private dining room. I'm pretty sure we emptied and rinsed Winnie before we left, as a preventative measure.

Brunch was lovely.

While we were placing our orders Fran asked about the Strawberry Soup that hasn't been on the menu for years. The server said that they could still make it, they just needed advance notice, so we told her that we were going to be there on Wednesday at 8PM, and she would try to have it for us then. Everyone had a choice of Prosecco, a mimosa, or a non alcoholic beverage. Fran and I had the Prosecco.

The server brought two of each antipasto, meat.

Seafood

plus one for the vegetarians.

Our server brought every flavor of pizza that they served for the table. Sausage.

Margherita

Grape and goat cheese

She also brought us some bread service.

We also ordered off the menu. Fran got the Tomato Basil soup.

I started with the Eggs Benedict (which we split).

We also split the buttermilk pancakes.

I had tastes of the sausage pizza, the ahi tuna, some of the cured meats, and the other seafood. Fran and I were the only seafood eaters at our end of the table so we basically polished off the seafood plate.

To accompany the later dishes I chose this Gavi La Scolca.

We also ordered the Chicken Parmesan. This wasn't as I remembered it. What I remembered was a thinly pounded chicken breast, not one this thick. Don't get me wrong it was still good just not to die for like it used to be.

Fran ordered the Veal Saltimbocca, which was totally different than we'd had it before.

We ordered our desserts. Everyone was pretty full but I had budgeted appetite wise just enough room for dessert.

I'll be back with our dessert choices!

 

[DnA2010]

I didn't feel comfortable with her walking across the room without my help to steady her. We must have woken up three or four times in the night, pretty much every two hours.

With a moving ship, it would be pretty tough for anyone!

Beauty shot! I need to see a sunrise on an ocean soon!

At home I brew my Keurig on the most concentrated strength, and it takes 3 pods just to get my one cup of coffee.

We like it strong too, 3 pods sounds strong indeed! We don't have a Keurig tho, so can't test it

I love the ship in the early morning. The crew are cleaning everything up super clean. Hardly anyone is about.

Just the best time to walk around indeed!

Sometimes I will mix these machines with like 3/4 black coffee and 1/4 of the french vanilla or hot chocolate or whatever- cuts the sweet

Coffee with a view!

Thanks for sharing the menu, I always love seeing menus.
Dorian knows if we are going somewhere I will have generally already scoped the menu, where as he likes the surprise

What a great spot!

ur server brought every flavor of pizza that they served for the table. Sausage.

Which was your fav? Doing Palo as a big group would be great, as getting a little bit of all the appies would be great!

Grape and goat cheese

I remember being a big "hmmm" about trying this one, but if I remember correct, it was ok

ahhh I want to wipe that bowl's rim!

ordered the Chicken Parmesan. This wasn't as I remembered it. What I remembered was a thinly pounded chicken breast, not one this thick. Don't get me wrong it was still good just not to die for like it used to be.

I def remember it being a thin, pounded chicken breast also!

 

[rentayenta]

All caught up!

The food and company both look fabulous! So glad you and Fran got to get away. Can't wait for more updates.

 

[pkondz]

Well I actually know some people who think of food as nothing but sustenance and don't really care what they eat as long as it checks off the nutritional boxes. Weirdos.

Correct

I thought I made it clear that's where she got the name!

Missed or forgot it. Had a few things on my mind lately.

Still a loooooong road until we're out of this.

But shorter than what it was.

Well you know we live in such a wet climate, they're afraid it will create an electrical hazard.

Ah yes. I remember the constant torrential rains.

have a feeling that it's written in their contracts that they can't touch the bags. They were traffic/security and I'm guessing only unionized baggage handlers are allowed to touch the bags. In fact I'm sure that it comes down to something as stupid as that.

She ordered off the kids menu. Evidently even if an adult orders it, the meal is served on a kids plate (divided serving spots). She ordered other kids meals on this trip.

Ohhhh

Now I can post another update!

No, but I gave them a pat on top.

close enough!

The CMs really appreciate the sweet treats! The way that their eyes light up when they recognize what you've just given them is priceless.

I’ve done similar with flight attendants.

With her you never know, but I think she was enjoying a change of scenery.

I’m sure she was!

I was going to say that we're in sync, but you would have gone with the escargot on the first course.

Hmmm… likely, but not necessarily.

Only one thing better than this on the cruise!

Oh?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Glad you got into calmer waters.
The night wake up calls sound like a lot of work but I know how much Fran would have appreciated your TLC.

Food porn! Such amazing dishes. The pizzas look really yummy but I loved the look for the Chicken Parma and Veal Sal best.
Looking forward to dessert!

 

[pkondz]

I set the clock on my phone forward since we would be going back one time zone on our first port day. The only way I could figure out how to do it was to disable the automatic time detection, plus it was in the 11PM hour, so when I set it forward I also had to change the date forward.

I don’t recall if I had trouble with that on my cruise or not.

Fran is still having trouble getting in and out of bed after her last hospital stay, and with the choppiness of the seas. I didn't feel comfortable with her walking across the room without my help to steady her. We must have woken up three or four times in the night, pretty much every two hours.

Exhausting… for the both of you.

It was instantly clear to both of us that we had reached calmer waters

Phew!

At home I brew my Keurig on the most concentrated strength, and it takes 3 pods just to get my one cup of coffee.

3 pods!!!

This is the adult pool area, not very busy in the morning either.

Not surprising.

The Cove Cafe is where you go to get premium coffee. It's pricey, but I think I'm worth it!

Fran asked for a cup of hot chocolate and I was pleasantly surprised by the tasty nectar dispensed from this machine!

Those are so hit and miss. Some are great, some are horrible. Glad this one was the former.

Brunch was lovely.

You know what I’d order.

While we were placing our orders Fran asked about the Strawberry Soup that hasn't been on the menu for years. The server said that they could still make it, they just needed advance notice, so we told her that we were going to be there on Wednesday at 8PM, and she would try to have it for us then.

Ahhhh… that answers my earlier question.

Nice shot of the gang.

Our server brought every flavor of pizza that they served for the table.

Great idea!

Grape and goat cheese

That sounds interesting. Don’t know if I’d like it, but I’d sure try it.

started with the Eggs Benedict

There it is.

 

[franandaj]

With a moving ship, it would be pretty tough for anyone!

It was pretty rocky even for me that first night.

Beauty shot! I need to see a sunrise on an ocean soon!

Sunrise on the ocean is the best. We're looking at Fall 2024 on the Wonder in case you want to join in....

We like it strong too, 3 pods sounds strong indeed! We don't have a Keurig tho, so can't test it

Well it's not the number that makes it strong, it's the brewing strength. Because I choose the strongest, it doesn't brew a lot of coffee, so I need three pods at that strength to get enough to fill my cup. I have a pretty big cup at home. But I only have one cup each fay.

Just the best time to walk around indeed!

It is very nice. No one is around and it's so quiet and clean!

Sometimes I will mix these machines with like 3/4 black coffee and 1/4 of the french vanilla or hot chocolate or whatever- cuts the sweet

I like my coffee with cream no sugar. I don't like any sweetness. I will take sips of Fran's Hot chocolate but can't drink my own cup full.

Coffee with a view!

But not for very long. I'm sure I had to help Fran get dressed or something....

Thanks for sharing the menu, I always love seeing menus.
Dorian knows if we are going somewhere I will have generally already scoped the menu, where as he likes the surprise

That's like Jenny and Michael. She wants to know what she's going to have. He wants to be surprised. I knew pretty much what I was going to eat for each meal before I got on the ship. There were only a couple menus that I was waffling over the choices.

What a great spot!

It was so cool having that massive dining room to ourselves!

Which was your fav? Doing Palo as a big group would be great, as getting a little bit of all the appies would be great!

I only tried the sausage pizza. I'd had the grape and goat cheese before, it was OK, but not something I totally loved.

I remember being a big "hmmm" about trying this one, but if I remember correct, it was ok

Yeah, see above....

ahhh I want to wipe that bowl's rim!

I think Fran had taken a sip before I took the pic. She always wipes her spoon on the rim of the bowl and make a mess.

I def remember it being a thin, pounded chicken breast also!

This is what I had in 2012. There was more risotto and thinner chicken.

 

[franandaj]

All caught up!

The food and company both look fabulous! So glad you and Fran got to get away. Can't wait for more updates.

Another update will be coming as soon as I finish replies! Got to wrap this up before the WDW TR!

 

[franandaj]

Missed or forgot it. Had a few things on my mind lately.

Hope things are looking up.

But shorter than what it was.

Well at that time we didn't realize the tunnel was going to keep getting longer. Hopefully there are no new surprises.

I’ve done similar with flight attendants.

They must be really appreciative, at least with the way they are treated in America.

Hmmm… likely, but not necessarily.

Well it was a guess.....

I don’t recall if I had trouble with that on my cruise or not.

Probably not, I think it was an inside passage and that is very smooth.

Exhausting… for the both of you.

Yeah, I was looking forward to getting home so I could sleep through the night.

3 pods!!!

It's not that much. On the strong setting it only makes about 2oz of liquid.

Those are so hit and miss. Some are great, some are horrible. Glad this one was the former.

It was super tasty! I'm not normally a hot chocolate person.

You know what I’d order.

Yup. You'll see she ate them all week!

That sounds interesting. Don’t know if I’d like it, but I’d sure try it.

It's worth trying, but since I'd had it before I wanted to use my calories elsewhere.

There it is.

 

[franandaj]

Glad you got into calmer waters.

Me too. It was mostly chill until we got close to back in home port.

The night wake up calls sound like a lot of work but I know how much Fran would have appreciated your TLC.

She really can't do a lot without my help right now. Not that she could before, but it's even more so now.

Food porn! Such amazing dishes. The pizzas look really yummy but I loved the look for the Chicken Parma and Veal Sal best.
Looking forward to dessert!

The whole cruise is full of Amazing food porn. You'd think all we did is eat. Well for Fran, that was mostly all she did, that and sleep.

 

[pkondz]

Hope things are looking up.

In some ways yes. In other ways no.

Well at that time we didn't realize the tunnel was going to keep getting longer. Hopefully there are no new surprises.

Sure hope not. Nothing but open roads ahead!

They must be really appreciative, at least with the way they are treated in America.

How so?

Probably not, I think it was an inside passage and that is very smooth.

I meant the time zone change. Not sure if o had trouble with that or not. May have just manually set my phone. Not sure.

Yeah, I was looking forward to getting home so I could sleep through the night.

You didn’t sleep well all trip?

It's not that much. On the strong setting it only makes about 2oz of liquid.

Ah. Non coffee drinker here.

 

[PrincessInOz]

She really can't do a lot without my help right now. Not that she could before, but it's even more so now.

Oh no! I've said it before and I'll say it again. Wish I were closer to help you and Fran out.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Omg what an ordeal for Fran (and you)! I'm so happy she is on the mend and you were able to go on your cruise.

I can't wait to read more.

 

[franandaj]

In some ways yes. In other ways no.

How so?

Has it not made the news in Canada that American passengers have slugged flight attendants? One lost teeth. There's all sort of other unruly behavior going on. I'm sort of numb to it on the news, never seen it myself but every week there is a new story of how someone has to be subdued, the plane rerouted and the person is taken into custody.

I meant the time zone change. Not sure if o had trouble with that or not. May have just manually set my phone. Not sure.

Did you have your phone on airplane mode or did you have a data plan for US, well actually a lot of the inside passage is in Canada so maybe you didn't have to turn your phone off.

You didn’t sleep well all trip?

You'll see....

Ah. Non coffee drinker here.

Well, I like mine super strong....

 

[pkondz]

Has it not made the news in Canada that American passengers have slugged flight attendants? One lost teeth.

There's all sort of other unruly behavior going on. I'm sort of numb to it on the news, never seen it myself but every week there is a new story of how someone has to be subdued, the plane rerouted and the person is taken into custody.

Have heard some of that.

Did you have your phone on airplane mode or did you have a data plan for US, well actually a lot of the inside passage is in Canada so maybe you didn't have to turn your phone off.

Had a free wifi package so used that. Data was turned off.

Well, I like mine super strong....

I like mine… something else.

 

[franandaj]

Oh no! I've said it before and I'll say it again. Wish I were closer to help you and Fran out.

It's funny I have so many friends all over the world, but very few close by that are able to help.

 

[Flossbolna]

Love your brunch pictures! It looks like a perfect meal with friends in the private dining room!

I am already dreaming about early morning Cove Cafe visits for out upcoming cruises. Mainly for the pastries since I am too cheap to pay for the coffee there (and actually had not so great coffee there too often. I think not all CMs know how to operate the fancy machines so that the coffee is not watery).

I just keep wondering why they don't provide some kind of reusable cup on the ship. They claim they stopped the navigators for environmental reasons, but the sheer amount of paper cups they go through could easily be replaced by plain plastic cups that can be washed... Don't put a logo on them though, so they don't fall into people's suitcases by accident...

Sorry for the quick rant... I once bonded with @dizneeat over our disdain for Cove wanting to serve us a coffee to be consumed there in paper instead of a real cup. I guess our European upbringing is showing there!!

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I set the clock on my phone forward since we would be going back one time zone on our first port day. The only way I could figure out how to do it was to disable the automatic time detection, plus it was in the 11PM hour, so when I set it forward I also had to change the date forward.

Geez, all that just to lose an hour of sleep.

We must have woken up three or four times in the night, pretty much every two hours.

Sorry, multiple hours of sleep.

Lovely!

I love the ship in the early morning.

Does the ship smell like napalm? Wonder if anyone gets that reference.

It's pricey, but I think I'm worth it!

Hey, you would know!

Looks like a lovely brunch.

 

[pkondz]

Does the ship smell like napalm? Wonder if anyone gets that reference.

 

[franandaj]

Omg what an ordeal for Fran (and you)!

This past year has been a nightmare.

I'm so happy she is on the mend and you were able to go on your cruise.

It was a nice change of pace.

I can't wait to read more.

More to come!