We saw this cruise early and were intrigued by the really unique itinerary so we booked at a great price of $1000 for both of us including taxes and port fees for our inside room. What was different for us about this particular sailing was the repositioning aspect of it - San Juan to Miami. We flew into San Juan from Orlando on Southwest and rented a car from Miami back up to Orlando.
Like the San Fran and Napa trip of 2012, I was in a boot for another stress fracture. This put a pretty big damper on some of our plans. I had really wanted to hike the rain forest in Puerto Rico, but that didn't happen this trip. Guess we'll need to make another trip back when I'm not hobbling around:)
Hotel in San Juan (2 days pre-cruise)
The Renaissance La Concha in Condado. We used the hubs' Marriott points and stayed two nights for a total of 60,000 points. Very nice resort, good location, a couple of pools, and right on the beach. Across from the hotel is a great breakfast joint - Pinky's.
Restaurants
Pinky's - Really great place for breakfast in Condado. We went both mornings and had different items each time. It was all fantastic! Prices are attractive, too.
Casa Cortes - If you love chocolate as much as I do, stop at this place for dessert or a mid-afternoon snack. Can't wait to go back to try more of their menu offerings! This place is downtown Old San Juan,
Ship
Restaurant service: Painfully slow almost every night.
Steakhouse: Worst steakhouse experience we've had - bad service, food mediocre relative to our usual steakhouse meals.
Common areas and room always really clean.
Entertainment: Laughable.
Overall, we enjoyed our cruise, but the service just wasn't good.
Ports of Call
St. Croix
We had an island tour scheduled with a friend of a friend, but a medical emergency of a friend in our tour group changed our plans quickly. The beach is pretty and the plantation ruins cool, but the hospital visit was a unique part of the tour that none of us were expecting. I definitely want to go back and re-do this port.
Dominica
Sadly, the boot I had to wear on my foot did not allow me to go with the rest of my group on the Sheppee Pirates of the Caribbean tour. From the pictures I've seen along with the commentary from the hubs and our friends, I'm really glad I didn't attempt this tour. In fact, if you have any physical limitations at all, not a good swimmer, and adverse to cold water, don't choose this tour.
Instead, I joined up with a smaller group and took the Discover Dominica tour with Exodus. Normal price is $50pp (same price for the same tour through Carnival), but the group leader negotiated down to $40pp for our group of 10. Definitely recommend this tour if you are unable to do strenuous activities.
Martinique
We had a heck of time coming up with something to do here that did not require knowing some French and need euros so we took the usually-avoided ship excursion through Carnival - The Historic St. Pierre tour. So NOT worth it!
Granada
I set up a private tour with AJ Meddy for our group of 6 and chose the West Coast Half-Day. It was $32pp. We had a great day with this tour company and would definitely use his company again. Very personal service from the beginning, and we really enjoyed the tour guides he set up for us. Very nice guys!
Grand Turk
LOVE this place as a beach day! So easy! Walk off the pier, and BOOM, you're there. Next time we'll wander down to Jack's Shack, I think.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Monday, September 15, 2014
Carnival Freedom - Eastern Caribbean
Booked this last minute as an Inside Guarantee, which was a first for us. Usually we like to pick our inside room, but the price was significantly higher to do that. Total cruise cost for both of us together was $807 for 8 days. Not too shabby!
Parking
Park N Go (Ft. Lauderdale) - Reserved ahead of time at $6.99 per day, payable when leaving the lot. Free shuttle. Service was fast and convenient. Only thing that caught us off guard was having to leave the key with the attendant. We also learned on the way out that there is a pre-pay option. Would definitely do that next time.
Room
The inside guarantee paid off for us. We ended up in 7441, the same location we would have booked ourselves. To us, inside is great because we'd rather spend our money ashore. Our ninja-like cabin steward was very attentive and friendly, and the AC worked just fine. Since Lido is on 9 and the Promenade on 5, deck 7 was perfect.
Ship
The Freedom was blessed with many of the 2.0 upgrades, which was fantastic. Alchemy Bar had a wonderful list of martinis and specialty cocktails, and the Red Frog Pub was our time-killing location of choice. I don't think I've ever played shuffle board so much! Alchemy was never busy, and the Pub always chill.
We went to a few of the shows in Victoriana Lounge. One of the best shows I have seen on any Carnival ship is "88 Keys." Definitely go if you are on this ship. Late-night, we enjoyed the Dive-in Movies on Lido. I finally got to see both "Divergent" and "Maleficient". They have fuzzy blankets available at the towel station and popcorn ready at the Red Frog bar. Nothing like watching a great move under the starts with a nice Caribbean breeze.
Debarkation at the end of the trip was much slower than what we are used to. At times, brunch and dinner service was very slow. The fourth night, we were assigned to Yatna's section of the Anytime Dining room - Chic. We requested him ever night after. If you have the opportunity, ask for him by name! He was fantastic.
The ship visited Nassau on the last day. We didn't leave the boat and enjoyed the nearly empty ship - open lounge chairs every where and no lines for food. So relaxing!
Food
We reserved the Sun King Steakhouse as soon as we walked onto the ship. The food was the best we have ever gotten in a Carnival Steakhouse. Everything was fantastic, and my filet was spot-on. Definitely worth the $35pp. Look for the cooking demonstration offered at the steakhouse - sometimes on the first sea day around noon. It's free, and the best part is the food you taste. The sample sizes are actually pretty nice.
Tea time - it's now a "been there, done that."
The Freedom has a fish & chips, Guy's Burgers, and Blue Iguana Cantina. We did not visit the fish & chips, and on the last night I heard they served ceviche. Crap! Maybe next time. Guy's burgers and fries speak for themselves. YUM! The Blue Iguana tacos are delectable! The meats are all wonderfully seasoned and the tortillas made right there. Fantastic!
As mentioned, dinner in the main dining room started off slow, especially on formal night #1. Like, painfully slow. The food was consistent, so no complaints there. The service speed definitely picked up for us when in Yatna's section.
Ports of Call
St. Thomas - We visited Sapphire Beach again this trip for some beach time and snorkeling. We got off the boat as soon as we could and hopped into a taxi with 3 other couples. We were some of the first people to get to Sapphire. We reserved our lounge chair for $9. The no-see-ums were terrible, so you definitely want to keep yourself and your stuff up out of the sand.
After an uncomfortable entry into the water, we donned our snorkel sets and were the first ones out in the water besides two people on paddle boards. We swam about 75 yards out to the sea grass to find the turtles. I think they were just waking up. We saw 4 of them before heading the coral reef on the right side of the bay. The reef is mostly gray and yellow so nothing spectacular on that note; however, I did get a little too close and uncomfortable with the resident barracuda. I saw him out of the corner of my eye about 6 feet away, and started backpeddling. He couldn't have cared less about me. On the swim back, we saw our spotted ray.
We only hung out there for another 45 minutes are so before heading back to port. Carnival now has ship excursions to Sapphire, so it got really crowded. Our cab driver back was great! I asked if he could be reserved ahead of time, and he gave me his card. Highly recommend him: Gary Winchester, gkwazi@hotmail.com. All taxis are regulated so the round-trip total for 2 people is $40 to Sapphire from port.
Verizon service never picked up for us, although I was told that all texts and data were free there. Too bad I couldn't even get a second of service.
San Juan - Because we are staying in Puerto Rico for a couple of days before our Fall cruise, we wanted to spend this port-time exploring and getting familiar with Old San Juan. We toured both forts in the city - $5pp covered both entrances. There is a LOT of ground to cover in those forts and on the streets, so wear cool clothing and very comfortable shoes.
Based on a recommendation from a friend, we ate lunch at a diner-style counter with a bunch of locals - Cafe Manolin. Great food at fair prices (fair considering it's in the touristy area). For example, my shrimp mofungo with rice and beans and a couple slices of sweet plantains was $7.95.
There is a hop-on hop-off bus that goes through the city, which can save a lot of walking. Definitely take advantage of that if traveling from one fort to the other.
Antigua - We WERE going to follow this plan: Valley Church Beach for the day. Here are the directions if you'd like to get there via bus ($1.50 pp each way): Walk straight off the pier and turn right once you get to Market Street. You will continue down Market St for about 10 minutes. When you come to the giant statue of a man, take the fork in the road to the right. The bus station will be behind a white building on your right. Let the bus #22 driver know you want to get off at Valley Church Beach. Two chairs and an umbrella will cost $20.
Instead, we did this: Gordon's Tour #1 for $40pp with a minimum of 4 people. Gordon picked us up promptly from the boardwalk right after walking off the pier, and we were on our way from a wonderfully narrated tour of the island. Last time, we saw Antigua by sea. This time it was from a completely different perspective. Gordon is super friendly and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend booking with him. We ended our tour at Valley Church Beach and had lunch at The Nest. Food prices are a little high since they are the only place there, but do accept credit card or cash. The water here is a milky blue so don't waste your time trying to snorkel.
Parking
Park N Go (Ft. Lauderdale) - Reserved ahead of time at $6.99 per day, payable when leaving the lot. Free shuttle. Service was fast and convenient. Only thing that caught us off guard was having to leave the key with the attendant. We also learned on the way out that there is a pre-pay option. Would definitely do that next time.
Room
The inside guarantee paid off for us. We ended up in 7441, the same location we would have booked ourselves. To us, inside is great because we'd rather spend our money ashore. Our ninja-like cabin steward was very attentive and friendly, and the AC worked just fine. Since Lido is on 9 and the Promenade on 5, deck 7 was perfect.
Ship
The Freedom was blessed with many of the 2.0 upgrades, which was fantastic. Alchemy Bar had a wonderful list of martinis and specialty cocktails, and the Red Frog Pub was our time-killing location of choice. I don't think I've ever played shuffle board so much! Alchemy was never busy, and the Pub always chill.
We went to a few of the shows in Victoriana Lounge. One of the best shows I have seen on any Carnival ship is "88 Keys." Definitely go if you are on this ship. Late-night, we enjoyed the Dive-in Movies on Lido. I finally got to see both "Divergent" and "Maleficient". They have fuzzy blankets available at the towel station and popcorn ready at the Red Frog bar. Nothing like watching a great move under the starts with a nice Caribbean breeze.
Debarkation at the end of the trip was much slower than what we are used to. At times, brunch and dinner service was very slow. The fourth night, we were assigned to Yatna's section of the Anytime Dining room - Chic. We requested him ever night after. If you have the opportunity, ask for him by name! He was fantastic.
The ship visited Nassau on the last day. We didn't leave the boat and enjoyed the nearly empty ship - open lounge chairs every where and no lines for food. So relaxing!
Food
We reserved the Sun King Steakhouse as soon as we walked onto the ship. The food was the best we have ever gotten in a Carnival Steakhouse. Everything was fantastic, and my filet was spot-on. Definitely worth the $35pp. Look for the cooking demonstration offered at the steakhouse - sometimes on the first sea day around noon. It's free, and the best part is the food you taste. The sample sizes are actually pretty nice.
Tea time - it's now a "been there, done that."
The Freedom has a fish & chips, Guy's Burgers, and Blue Iguana Cantina. We did not visit the fish & chips, and on the last night I heard they served ceviche. Crap! Maybe next time. Guy's burgers and fries speak for themselves. YUM! The Blue Iguana tacos are delectable! The meats are all wonderfully seasoned and the tortillas made right there. Fantastic!
As mentioned, dinner in the main dining room started off slow, especially on formal night #1. Like, painfully slow. The food was consistent, so no complaints there. The service speed definitely picked up for us when in Yatna's section.
Ports of Call
St. Thomas - We visited Sapphire Beach again this trip for some beach time and snorkeling. We got off the boat as soon as we could and hopped into a taxi with 3 other couples. We were some of the first people to get to Sapphire. We reserved our lounge chair for $9. The no-see-ums were terrible, so you definitely want to keep yourself and your stuff up out of the sand.
After an uncomfortable entry into the water, we donned our snorkel sets and were the first ones out in the water besides two people on paddle boards. We swam about 75 yards out to the sea grass to find the turtles. I think they were just waking up. We saw 4 of them before heading the coral reef on the right side of the bay. The reef is mostly gray and yellow so nothing spectacular on that note; however, I did get a little too close and uncomfortable with the resident barracuda. I saw him out of the corner of my eye about 6 feet away, and started backpeddling. He couldn't have cared less about me. On the swim back, we saw our spotted ray.Verizon service never picked up for us, although I was told that all texts and data were free there. Too bad I couldn't even get a second of service.
San Juan - Because we are staying in Puerto Rico for a couple of days before our Fall cruise, we wanted to spend this port-time exploring and getting familiar with Old San Juan. We toured both forts in the city - $5pp covered both entrances. There is a LOT of ground to cover in those forts and on the streets, so wear cool clothing and very comfortable shoes.
Based on a recommendation from a friend, we ate lunch at a diner-style counter with a bunch of locals - Cafe Manolin. Great food at fair prices (fair considering it's in the touristy area). For example, my shrimp mofungo with rice and beans and a couple slices of sweet plantains was $7.95.
There is a hop-on hop-off bus that goes through the city, which can save a lot of walking. Definitely take advantage of that if traveling from one fort to the other.
Antigua - We WERE going to follow this plan: Valley Church Beach for the day. Here are the directions if you'd like to get there via bus ($1.50 pp each way): Walk straight off the pier and turn right once you get to Market Street. You will continue down Market St for about 10 minutes. When you come to the giant statue of a man, take the fork in the road to the right. The bus station will be behind a white building on your right. Let the bus #22 driver know you want to get off at Valley Church Beach. Two chairs and an umbrella will cost $20.
Instead, we did this: Gordon's Tour #1 for $40pp with a minimum of 4 people. Gordon picked us up promptly from the boardwalk right after walking off the pier, and we were on our way from a wonderfully narrated tour of the island. Last time, we saw Antigua by sea. This time it was from a completely different perspective. Gordon is super friendly and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend booking with him. We ended our tour at Valley Church Beach and had lunch at The Nest. Food prices are a little high since they are the only place there, but do accept credit card or cash. The water here is a milky blue so don't waste your time trying to snorkel.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Napa Valley, CA
Just home from a quick 3-day spin around Napa and Sonoma.
SpringHill Suites Napa Valley - There are probably some that will argue that this hotel is too far south to be convenient to wine country; however, we really enjoyed the hotel itself as well as the location. It is easy to get to either Sonoma or Napa, and it's closer to the airports (we flew out of Sacramento). VERY clean, very quiet. For those interested (we didn't have the time), they have a pool and beautiful fire pit. If you stay here, Devlin Rd is a nice shortcut off the main highway that will alleviate a couple minutes in traffic. Just turn right out of the hotel onto Devlin then make a right-hand turn onto Soscal Ferry Rd - that will get you where you need to go. We'd stay here again.
Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa - If you are going to wine country purely for wine tasting and plan to be gone through the day, I wouldn't stay here. The grounds are beautiful and very resort-style, but we couldn't enjoy it with how long we were gone. We literally only slept here and had breakfast in the Elite/Platinum lounge (thanks to the hubs traveling so much). For the price, it's not worth it to us to stay here, although I will say it's a little more convenient to the Napa wineries.
Wineries
Rombauer - If you like heavily oaked wines with a lot of vanilla and butter on the finish, Rombauer is the place to go. Even if you don't like that style of wine, you will love the picnic grounds and the view from the ledges of the hill. The landscape is top-notch lush, and there is plenty of space to picnic before or after your tasting. We picked up pre-ordered boxed lunches from Sunshine Food Market (below) and grabbed a picnic table here. Unfortunately, the tasting room is a belly-up to the bar type of place that was busy when we walked in. It took several minutes for us to be acknowledged and were about to leave until a gentleman called us over to his tasting table. Definitely recommend as a stop.
Markham - We were introduced to Markham in our off-time from pouring at a past Party for the Senses at Epcot during the annual Food & Wine Festival. Markham's Chardonnay hits the buttery spot for me, but it's not nearly as oaky as Rombauer. We usually have a bottle in the fridge because we can buy it at Total Wine. The tasting room is lovely and the staff is attentive. Recommend.
Jamieson Ranch - I would never have gone to Jamieson Ranch if a tour hadn't been set up for us by a good friend of ours who works in the wine industry. It is at the very base of Napa (2 miles from SpringHill Suites), and the property is just absolutely stunning and inviting. So happy we had a chance to visit here! We had the complete experience here - tour, tasting, cheese plate, honey tasting, and mini horse visit. This is the kind of winery that you can visit with either your honey or a group of friends and have a really nice time. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and hospitable staff. The wine is great, and we bought a bottle of their port-style dessert wine, the only style we drink. They have a fantastic Viognier and a few wonderful Pinot Noirs.
Now, a little tangent. We spent a little over two hours here and got a really nice tour of the property and facilities. Something that I did not expect was a visit from their mini horses. These sweet creatures have been rescued and then trained as therapy horses. They are not much bigger than a large dog and can enter health-care facilities to visit patients. The work that Jamieson Ranch is doing with the horses is amazing, and I love the story behind them. They have a brand dedicated specifically to this initiative called Light Horse. Highly recommend a visit here!
Peju is one of our favorites, and we visited here again on our first winery stop. Last year we took home a couple bottles of Zin. This year, we took home a couple bottles of Syrah. The staff friendliness can be a little iffy here, but we still really like this place.
Whitehall Lane was also a repeat for us, but this time we had a private tour set up. We spent a good amount of time with one of the tasting room staff, Jeff Bailey, and had the opportunity to meet Tom, Jr, the owner's son who has a big hand in the business. The wines here are quality, and the tasting room is small but comfortable. Always a nice little stop, and it's right up the road from Peju and right down the road from Sunshine Food Market.
The Terraces - I will never forget the Christmas at my old wine shop, Cork & Olive, when we were tasked with making up 25 baskets with bottles of Terraces wine for one of our customers. There were baskets EVERYwhere in our little store. That was in 2008. Fast forward to last week, and we FINALLY got a very up-close and personal look at The Terraces. We spent a good amount of time viewing the gorgeous hill-side property - old stone winery shell constructed in the late 1800s, a stone outbuilding where they are making balsamic vinegar for the wine club, peach trees, honey bee boxes, vines, guests houses. It's 130 acres of pure beauty. The wines are terrific, and the hospitality director and winemaker are really nice and knowledgeable. Highly recommend a reservation!
Thomas George (north of Sonoma - Russian River Valley) - As we were driving south on Westside Rd, we decided that one of the wineries might make for a good stop. Wine tastings are done in their caves, and they have a great selection of Pinot Noirs. It's a small, comfortable atmosphere on a beautiful property.
Ledson (Sonoma) - We still regret not buying that 2006 Zin from our 2012 trip, so this time we swore that if we liked it, we were buying it. We walked out with a couple great selections after going through a tasting with Tom, whom we had met on our last visit. The property and mansion are gorgeous and were featured as the cover on my Facebook page for quite a while. They specialize in Zin, but have a killer Chardonnay that we almost passed on until Tom insisted that it fit the exact description I gave him of my preferred Chard style. I should have known to trust him after the 2012 visit, but I really do now. He was SPOT on, and I'm glad he challenged me on it. Highly recommend!
Moshin (north of Sonoma - Russian River Valley) is right down the street on Westside Rd from Thomas George and was a last second recommendation from our wine industry friend via text. The staff was very nice, the wines are solid, and the labeling clever. I wish that we'd been able to meet the owners, but neither of them were on property at the time. It's a neat little place that makes for a nice, quick stop.
Tasting Rooms
Flora Spring - We visited based on a recommendation from Whitehall Lane. In a nutshell, the tasting room is neat, the wines good, and the prices insane. Would not go back.
Girard - Went with a winemaker we met at an industry party so we didn't have to pay, which was great since I wasn't completely blown away. I think if I'd had a more uninfluenced tongue by that point in the afternoon, it might have been a better experience. If the mood strikes, we might pop by earlier in the day next time we are in town.
Spann (Sonoma) came pretty highly recommended on Yelp, so we decided to swing by here on our way out of Sonoma. Glad we did. The tasting bar is inside the entrance of an art gallery, and we had a really nice conversation with the gentleman pouring for us. The wines are pretty good, and it was one of our better tasting room experiences.
Restaurants
Grace's Table Because we liked Grace's so much in 2012, I bought a www.restaurant.com certificate so we could have dinner there. We ordered the cornbread with lavender butter that I'd read about over and over again on both Trip Advisor and Yelp. Whoa, just whoa! I really, really wish I could replicate that at home! If you go, please try it!!! The hubs had a really tasty burger, and I had the scallops over corn risotto. Both were quite yummy!
- If you can, download the Winery Finder app on your smartphone. There are some interesting deals out there for a lot of different wineries (2:1's, upgraded tastings, extra pours, etc.). Please note that, unlike a couple years ago, these deals require a public check-in and photo on either Twitter or Facebook. I was not happy with this change since we never post about a vacation until we are safely home. In the two instances we used the app, I deleted the post on Facebook soon after.
- We had to stay in two different hotels due to SpringHill being booked up for the NASCAR events Friday night.
SpringHill Suites Napa Valley - There are probably some that will argue that this hotel is too far south to be convenient to wine country; however, we really enjoyed the hotel itself as well as the location. It is easy to get to either Sonoma or Napa, and it's closer to the airports (we flew out of Sacramento). VERY clean, very quiet. For those interested (we didn't have the time), they have a pool and beautiful fire pit. If you stay here, Devlin Rd is a nice shortcut off the main highway that will alleviate a couple minutes in traffic. Just turn right out of the hotel onto Devlin then make a right-hand turn onto Soscal Ferry Rd - that will get you where you need to go. We'd stay here again.
Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa - If you are going to wine country purely for wine tasting and plan to be gone through the day, I wouldn't stay here. The grounds are beautiful and very resort-style, but we couldn't enjoy it with how long we were gone. We literally only slept here and had breakfast in the Elite/Platinum lounge (thanks to the hubs traveling so much). For the price, it's not worth it to us to stay here, although I will say it's a little more convenient to the Napa wineries.
Wineries
Rombauer - If you like heavily oaked wines with a lot of vanilla and butter on the finish, Rombauer is the place to go. Even if you don't like that style of wine, you will love the picnic grounds and the view from the ledges of the hill. The landscape is top-notch lush, and there is plenty of space to picnic before or after your tasting. We picked up pre-ordered boxed lunches from Sunshine Food Market (below) and grabbed a picnic table here. Unfortunately, the tasting room is a belly-up to the bar type of place that was busy when we walked in. It took several minutes for us to be acknowledged and were about to leave until a gentleman called us over to his tasting table. Definitely recommend as a stop.
 |
| View from one of the picnic areas at Rombauer. |
Jamieson Ranch - I would never have gone to Jamieson Ranch if a tour hadn't been set up for us by a good friend of ours who works in the wine industry. It is at the very base of Napa (2 miles from SpringHill Suites), and the property is just absolutely stunning and inviting. So happy we had a chance to visit here! We had the complete experience here - tour, tasting, cheese plate, honey tasting, and mini horse visit. This is the kind of winery that you can visit with either your honey or a group of friends and have a really nice time. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and hospitable staff. The wine is great, and we bought a bottle of their port-style dessert wine, the only style we drink. They have a fantastic Viognier and a few wonderful Pinot Noirs.
Now, a little tangent. We spent a little over two hours here and got a really nice tour of the property and facilities. Something that I did not expect was a visit from their mini horses. These sweet creatures have been rescued and then trained as therapy horses. They are not much bigger than a large dog and can enter health-care facilities to visit patients. The work that Jamieson Ranch is doing with the horses is amazing, and I love the story behind them. They have a brand dedicated specifically to this initiative called Light Horse. Highly recommend a visit here!
 |
| Sweet Jane - one of the therapy horses. |
 |
| View from our spot on the porch. |
Peju is one of our favorites, and we visited here again on our first winery stop. Last year we took home a couple bottles of Zin. This year, we took home a couple bottles of Syrah. The staff friendliness can be a little iffy here, but we still really like this place.
Whitehall Lane was also a repeat for us, but this time we had a private tour set up. We spent a good amount of time with one of the tasting room staff, Jeff Bailey, and had the opportunity to meet Tom, Jr, the owner's son who has a big hand in the business. The wines here are quality, and the tasting room is small but comfortable. Always a nice little stop, and it's right up the road from Peju and right down the road from Sunshine Food Market.
The Terraces - I will never forget the Christmas at my old wine shop, Cork & Olive, when we were tasked with making up 25 baskets with bottles of Terraces wine for one of our customers. There were baskets EVERYwhere in our little store. That was in 2008. Fast forward to last week, and we FINALLY got a very up-close and personal look at The Terraces. We spent a good amount of time viewing the gorgeous hill-side property - old stone winery shell constructed in the late 1800s, a stone outbuilding where they are making balsamic vinegar for the wine club, peach trees, honey bee boxes, vines, guests houses. It's 130 acres of pure beauty. The wines are terrific, and the hospitality director and winemaker are really nice and knowledgeable. Highly recommend a reservation!
Thomas George (north of Sonoma - Russian River Valley) - As we were driving south on Westside Rd, we decided that one of the wineries might make for a good stop. Wine tastings are done in their caves, and they have a great selection of Pinot Noirs. It's a small, comfortable atmosphere on a beautiful property.
Ledson (Sonoma) - We still regret not buying that 2006 Zin from our 2012 trip, so this time we swore that if we liked it, we were buying it. We walked out with a couple great selections after going through a tasting with Tom, whom we had met on our last visit. The property and mansion are gorgeous and were featured as the cover on my Facebook page for quite a while. They specialize in Zin, but have a killer Chardonnay that we almost passed on until Tom insisted that it fit the exact description I gave him of my preferred Chard style. I should have known to trust him after the 2012 visit, but I really do now. He was SPOT on, and I'm glad he challenged me on it. Highly recommend!
Moshin (north of Sonoma - Russian River Valley) is right down the street on Westside Rd from Thomas George and was a last second recommendation from our wine industry friend via text. The staff was very nice, the wines are solid, and the labeling clever. I wish that we'd been able to meet the owners, but neither of them were on property at the time. It's a neat little place that makes for a nice, quick stop.
Tasting Rooms
Flora Spring - We visited based on a recommendation from Whitehall Lane. In a nutshell, the tasting room is neat, the wines good, and the prices insane. Would not go back.
Girard - Went with a winemaker we met at an industry party so we didn't have to pay, which was great since I wasn't completely blown away. I think if I'd had a more uninfluenced tongue by that point in the afternoon, it might have been a better experience. If the mood strikes, we might pop by earlier in the day next time we are in town.
Spann (Sonoma) came pretty highly recommended on Yelp, so we decided to swing by here on our way out of Sonoma. Glad we did. The tasting bar is inside the entrance of an art gallery, and we had a really nice conversation with the gentleman pouring for us. The wines are pretty good, and it was one of our better tasting room experiences.
Restaurants
Grace's Table Because we liked Grace's so much in 2012, I bought a www.restaurant.com certificate so we could have dinner there. We ordered the cornbread with lavender butter that I'd read about over and over again on both Trip Advisor and Yelp. Whoa, just whoa! I really, really wish I could replicate that at home! If you go, please try it!!! The hubs had a really tasty burger, and I had the scallops over corn risotto. Both were quite yummy!
Sunshine Food Market (Picnic Lunch Box) - I had read that there were nice picnic places at Rombauer, so we ordered our boxed lunches the day before so we could just pick them up and go. The hubs had a full box with the Sioux-Z-Q sandwich and Pesto Pasta Salad, and I had a light box with the Tri-Tip sandwich. We didn't have room for the chips or cookies because the sandwiches, pasta, and fruit filled us up. I will definitely order from them again if we are looking to picnic.
Bounty Hunter BBQ was a happy hour snack stop for us. We shared the $10 sampler. Awesome! It's right downtown Napa, over the bridge from Oxbow Market.
Carpe Diem - We enjoyed the happy hour selection so much in 2012, that this was our last stop before heading to our airport hotel. We had a lot of different food, no wine, for a nice price. We had the following: Harissa Fries, Truffle Popcorn, shot of soup, Quack N Cheese, and the mushroom flatbread. So good that my mouth is now watering thinking about it!
One Other Thing...Bounty Hunter BBQ was a happy hour snack stop for us. We shared the $10 sampler. Awesome! It's right downtown Napa, over the bridge from Oxbow Market.
Carpe Diem - We enjoyed the happy hour selection so much in 2012, that this was our last stop before heading to our airport hotel. We had a lot of different food, no wine, for a nice price. We had the following: Harissa Fries, Truffle Popcorn, shot of soup, Quack N Cheese, and the mushroom flatbread. So good that my mouth is now watering thinking about it!
A very scenic drive can be had by driving down Westside Road in the vicinity of the Russian River Valley. Things to consider before making this jaunt:
- Drive it before you begin wine tasting for the day. The narrow road and tight turns can be a little hairy dead sober. And watch out for the cyclists.
- Read over the route map carefully before driving down Westside. We still got turned around where Eastside and River roads converge. Thankfully I had a Sonoma wine country map, tiny as it was, with us. We definitely ended up going in the wrong direction for a while on River Rd.
- Stop at some of the wineries along the way. They are so quaint, and the properties are beautiful.
- Don't expect to keep a cell phone signal throughout the drive. Our signals (and GPS) kept going out on us. Not fun, especially when were lost.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Disney Magic - Bahamas
I was very interested to see how this cruise line compares to Carnival. I knew that we could carry on as much alcohol as we wanted, so for the first cruise yet, the rum rummers remained neatly tucked into the "cruise box." I had also heard that the food is amazing, and that the private island is beautiful. I love Coco Cay (RC's island) and Half Moon Cay (Carnival's island), so I was really looking forward to experiencing Castaway Cay.
I couldn't help compare this ship to Royal and Carnival's 3-day cruise ships so I'm breaking my usual format to throw in some comparison tidbits.
Parking
We parked at the garage at port, which is different for us. There were a couple of check points before even getting to the luggage and passenger drop-off point. Drop off was easy, but it did take a while to get parked and walk back to the terminal. The walk back to the car after the cruise was pretty nice though. No shuttling back to the parking lot. We split the parking fee with another couple, but if it had just been me and the hubs, we'd have used Park Port Canaveral as usual.
The Ship
The Room
We had Ocean View Deluxe stateroom 6506. I was shocked at how big this room is. I'm not used to having that much space. From the looks of it, the couch pulls out into a bed, and there is a pullman over that. Also liked the divided bathroom, but each side was pretty darn tight. Good size mini fridge, and I really liked that I could flip through channels and watch Disney movies - some new, some old.
Each room comes with a couple of portable "wave phones," which make keeping in touch on-board and on Castaway Cay really easy, and you can text on them. Wish all cruise lines did this because walkie-talkies just don't do an adequate enough job.
The Food
The Disney Magic's food was really hit or miss. Here's my two cents:
Entertainment
The broadway-style shows are well-scripted and choreographed. They definitely have a step-up on Carnival and Royal.
One night we went to the movie theatre for a late showing of "Captain America - The Winter Soldier" in 3D. Comfortable theatre, free, and great to see a first-release movie in the middle of the ocean. We really enjoyed this option.
Public Space
The pools are small. We enjoyed the adult-only deck and pool area. Really comfortable, and clean towels are easy to come by. No need to sign out a clean towel with the towel nazis.
O'Gill's Pub became the unofficial meet-up spot for our group. During the day, it's very quiet and clean with lots of seating for a big group.
Cabana's (buffet area) is REALLY small. In the morning at Nassau, children and families were shoulder-to-shoulder. It was really hard to move around efficiently.
Castaway Cay
I like the umbrellas available on the beach. It was much more family-friendly than CocoCay and Half Moon Cay. Sand is a little rough with sea shells, and the snorkeling from the beach area isn't that great. We saw some fairly large fish, but the coral is non-existent. It's a heck of a swim, so do not attempt to snorkel out to the breaking wall unless you have fins and are a strong swimmer. I understand now why they have a few lifeguard stands in the water. We are both really strong swimmers and experienced snorkelers, but the swim back was exhausting.
The buffet lunch was really yummy!
We checked out the Serenity Bay adult-only area and found a little starfish. It was a little too quiet for us so we headed back to join up with our group after only about 30 minutes.
Overall Assessment
We will not be giving up Carnival as our go-to cruise line, but it sure was nice to experience some Disney hospitality and spend a terrific (though short) weekend with some really fun friends. We would definitely sail with Disney again.
I couldn't help compare this ship to Royal and Carnival's 3-day cruise ships so I'm breaking my usual format to throw in some comparison tidbits.
Parking
We parked at the garage at port, which is different for us. There were a couple of check points before even getting to the luggage and passenger drop-off point. Drop off was easy, but it did take a while to get parked and walk back to the terminal. The walk back to the car after the cruise was pretty nice though. No shuttling back to the parking lot. We split the parking fee with another couple, but if it had just been me and the hubs, we'd have used Park Port Canaveral as usual.
The Ship
The Room
We had Ocean View Deluxe stateroom 6506. I was shocked at how big this room is. I'm not used to having that much space. From the looks of it, the couch pulls out into a bed, and there is a pullman over that. Also liked the divided bathroom, but each side was pretty darn tight. Good size mini fridge, and I really liked that I could flip through channels and watch Disney movies - some new, some old.
Each room comes with a couple of portable "wave phones," which make keeping in touch on-board and on Castaway Cay really easy, and you can text on them. Wish all cruise lines did this because walkie-talkies just don't do an adequate enough job.
The Food
The Disney Magic's food was really hit or miss. Here's my two cents:
- Breakfast: Mediocre. Both the buffet and sitdown options are just OK. I like Carnival's breakfasts much better.
- Lunch: Really good. We only ate at the buffet. The food selection for lunch was really impressive. On embarkation day, I was really surprised to see lamb, shrimp, and crab claws. I definitely enjoyed all of the food we had for lunches.
- Dinner: Depends. Carioca's - didn't like it much. Animator's Palate - better than Carioca's. I like Carnival's food better overall, although Disney's dinner menus did have a few tasty options here and there. The dining room staff did a great job with our large group of 10 adults and 3 little ones.
- Specialty Dining: Palo - blew Carnival's steak house and Cucina and some the nicer restaurants in our area out of the water. Absolutely terrific, and the server's knowledge, charisma, and attentiveness were amazing!
- It was wonderful not having to take sodas on board with us. The Coke machines on board and on Castaway Cay were all in great working order and very convenient.
- The Pirates party buffet had some nice selections. I was astounded when I walked to the rear of the buffet in Cabana's and found freshly made crepes. I was really full from dinner, but that didn't stop me from indulging in my favorite food.
Entertainment
The broadway-style shows are well-scripted and choreographed. They definitely have a step-up on Carnival and Royal.
One night we went to the movie theatre for a late showing of "Captain America - The Winter Soldier" in 3D. Comfortable theatre, free, and great to see a first-release movie in the middle of the ocean. We really enjoyed this option.
Public Space
The pools are small. We enjoyed the adult-only deck and pool area. Really comfortable, and clean towels are easy to come by. No need to sign out a clean towel with the towel nazis.
O'Gill's Pub became the unofficial meet-up spot for our group. During the day, it's very quiet and clean with lots of seating for a big group.
Cabana's (buffet area) is REALLY small. In the morning at Nassau, children and families were shoulder-to-shoulder. It was really hard to move around efficiently.
Castaway Cay
I like the umbrellas available on the beach. It was much more family-friendly than CocoCay and Half Moon Cay. Sand is a little rough with sea shells, and the snorkeling from the beach area isn't that great. We saw some fairly large fish, but the coral is non-existent. It's a heck of a swim, so do not attempt to snorkel out to the breaking wall unless you have fins and are a strong swimmer. I understand now why they have a few lifeguard stands in the water. We are both really strong swimmers and experienced snorkelers, but the swim back was exhausting.
The buffet lunch was really yummy!
We checked out the Serenity Bay adult-only area and found a little starfish. It was a little too quiet for us so we headed back to join up with our group after only about 30 minutes.
Overall Assessment
We will not be giving up Carnival as our go-to cruise line, but it sure was nice to experience some Disney hospitality and spend a terrific (though short) weekend with some really fun friends. We would definitely sail with Disney again.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Carnival Dream - Western Caribbean
This was a great Spring Break cruise out of Port Canaveral. For the third time we used Park Port Canaveral at the Radisson. As usual, it was much cheaper than parking at the port with great customer service and a quick shuttle. $68 for a 7 night cruise.
We booked Early Saver through Carnival directly last May, and we had 4 different price drops including an upgraded room before final payment. If possible, we always book Early Saver. For this trip, the hubs and I went with my coworker who stayed with us in our room. She slept in a pullman bed, which was a bit of a climb up the ladder every night but tolerable. The room did feel a little tight with three people, but the fare was much cheaper this way.
The Ship
On our 7 night cruise, there were two formal nights in the main dining room. We selected Any Time Dining but never really had to wait for a table. We were able to request the same waiter 6 out of 7 nights; one night it was a 45 minute wait so we decided to sit in another section. Our wait staff team was awesome, and they really worked hard. It was non-stop for them, but they were always pleasant. Two tips if you are anything like me: order the cheese plate to come as an appetizer and mix the cherries jubilee with some chocolate melting cake on the first formal night:)
Cozumel
The hubs and I took a taxi from port ($9 each way for up to 4 people) to The Money Bar. We got there early and were able to get two lounge chairs under a tree. We ordered a plate of nachos, a soda, and a margarita for about $20. Snorkeling is right down the steps in front of Money Bar. There were plenty of fish but not much in the way of truly healthy reef this year. The current was also very strong heading toward to the cruise ship docks - a little energy to snorkel to the right first, but a drift back. A set of people started to the left with the current and saw a huge ray they followed for a good bit, but the swim back was difficult for them. We've been there twice, so we will probably try something else in Cozumel next time.
Belize - Caye Caulker
We walked out of the port to get to the Belize Express water taxi terminal. The entrance on your left is marked well with a big sign with the logo, and the ticket desk is all the way down the plaza to your right. Belize City doesn't feel safe to me, although I know some people say it's just fine. Here's a tip: Go all the way to Terminal 4 (far left side of the tourist village) before you walk out onto the street and turn left to go to the water taxi terminal. Less time on the street means less time being harassed by locals. We know this now.
We bought round trip tickets for both of us for $45. The taxi was packed full on our way out to Caye Caulker, lots of locals on their way out to their various jobs. The ride to Caye Caulker is 45 minutes and fairly smooth. We turned right as soon as we walked off the dock on CC and walked down "front" street. It is lined on both sides by restaurants and excursion booths on the water. Very easy walk from the dock to the Lazy Lizard at the Split. This is a very popular spot for the younger crowd who are staying on the island. We couldn't stay long, but apparently it gets pretty busy in the evenings. We bought their drink, Lizard Juice, for $5 USD. So good! This spot is a place to just relax and enjoy the scenery, but there were a few people snorkeling. The current is really strong here at the Split.
Roatan - West Bay Beach
Last time we were in Roatan, we really regretted not snorkeling so on this visit snorkeling was priority one for us. We found 2 other couples from our ship and hired a private driver through Victor Bodden for the day. We lucked out with having Tex as our guide. He is by far the most popular and most-talked-about guide on Cruise Critic. He was great! For $25 pp, he took us wherever we wanted to go.
We drove through town to West Bay to snorkel in front of Infinity Bay Resort through the infamous "kidney bean." All I can say is "WOW!" Such an easy snorkel from the beach with a ton of healthy reef and fish. There are dive boats and snorkel boats available for hire along the beach, but the beach is public, and the snorkeling is free with your own gear.
After snorkeling, we headed right down the road to Celeste’s for lunch. Great food, worth a stop.
$2pp taxi ride there, and a $2pp taxi ride back. Easy peasy!
We booked Early Saver through Carnival directly last May, and we had 4 different price drops including an upgraded room before final payment. If possible, we always book Early Saver. For this trip, the hubs and I went with my coworker who stayed with us in our room. She slept in a pullman bed, which was a bit of a climb up the ladder every night but tolerable. The room did feel a little tight with three people, but the fare was much cheaper this way.
The Ship
On our 7 night cruise, there were two formal nights in the main dining room. We selected Any Time Dining but never really had to wait for a table. We were able to request the same waiter 6 out of 7 nights; one night it was a 45 minute wait so we decided to sit in another section. Our wait staff team was awesome, and they really worked hard. It was non-stop for them, but they were always pleasant. Two tips if you are anything like me: order the cheese plate to come as an appetizer and mix the cherries jubilee with some chocolate melting cake on the first formal night:)
Cozumel
The hubs and I took a taxi from port ($9 each way for up to 4 people) to The Money Bar. We got there early and were able to get two lounge chairs under a tree. We ordered a plate of nachos, a soda, and a margarita for about $20. Snorkeling is right down the steps in front of Money Bar. There were plenty of fish but not much in the way of truly healthy reef this year. The current was also very strong heading toward to the cruise ship docks - a little energy to snorkel to the right first, but a drift back. A set of people started to the left with the current and saw a huge ray they followed for a good bit, but the swim back was difficult for them. We've been there twice, so we will probably try something else in Cozumel next time.
Belize - Caye Caulker
We walked out of the port to get to the Belize Express water taxi terminal. The entrance on your left is marked well with a big sign with the logo, and the ticket desk is all the way down the plaza to your right. Belize City doesn't feel safe to me, although I know some people say it's just fine. Here's a tip: Go all the way to Terminal 4 (far left side of the tourist village) before you walk out onto the street and turn left to go to the water taxi terminal. Less time on the street means less time being harassed by locals. We know this now.
We bought round trip tickets for both of us for $45. The taxi was packed full on our way out to Caye Caulker, lots of locals on their way out to their various jobs. The ride to Caye Caulker is 45 minutes and fairly smooth. We turned right as soon as we walked off the dock on CC and walked down "front" street. It is lined on both sides by restaurants and excursion booths on the water. Very easy walk from the dock to the Lazy Lizard at the Split. This is a very popular spot for the younger crowd who are staying on the island. We couldn't stay long, but apparently it gets pretty busy in the evenings. We bought their drink, Lizard Juice, for $5 USD. So good! This spot is a place to just relax and enjoy the scenery, but there were a few people snorkeling. The current is really strong here at the Split.
Roatan - West Bay Beach
Last time we were in Roatan, we really regretted not snorkeling so on this visit snorkeling was priority one for us. We found 2 other couples from our ship and hired a private driver through Victor Bodden for the day. We lucked out with having Tex as our guide. He is by far the most popular and most-talked-about guide on Cruise Critic. He was great! For $25 pp, he took us wherever we wanted to go.
We drove through town to West Bay to snorkel in front of Infinity Bay Resort through the infamous "kidney bean." All I can say is "WOW!" Such an easy snorkel from the beach with a ton of healthy reef and fish. There are dive boats and snorkel boats available for hire along the beach, but the beach is public, and the snorkeling is free with your own gear.
 |
| The "kidney bean" entrance to the reef directly in front of Infinity Bay Resort. |
After snorkeling, we headed right down the road to Celeste’s for lunch. Great food, worth a stop.
We still had time before we had to be back at the ship, so I asked
Tex if we could see some monkeys. He
drove us to Victor’s little zoo. For
$5pp, we toured the well-kept facility with Jorge and had the chance to play
visit with monkeys, parrots, toucans, and white-tailed deer. It was definitely worth the stop!
Costa Maya
At Costa Maya, we decided that this would be a relaxing beach
day. Several months in advance I emailed
Steve at the Tropicante to reserve lounge chairs for the time we were there. Steve is originally from Texas and runs a
great business with attentive, friendly staff.
We had guacamole, $5 margaritas, and the fish ceviche. All of it was very good! It was a relaxing way to spend our last port
day.
$2pp taxi ride there, and a $2pp taxi ride back. Easy peasy!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
St. Augustine, FL
 |
| The Tini Martini lit up for the holidays. |
We needed one more night in a Marriott brand from hubby to keep his Platinum status for the year, so we decided to take an overnight trip to St. Aug, a place we've been a couple of times already.
Lodging
Fairfield Inn - We usually stay outside the city, and this hotel is a good option. Clean rooms, newer hotel, and continental breakfast to prep for a day of walking around. It's a good affordable option.
Restaurants
The Back 40 Urban Cafe - I found this little gem on Trip Advisor a couple hours before leaving for St. Aug. You will need a car to get here since it's a little outside of the old city downtown. They have a happy hour hour each day from 3-6, and it's a hot spot for locals. While we were eating, a couple about our age came in and ordered. We asked them if they had been there before, and she said that they are there a couple times a month. Hubby had the wet burrito, and I had the tacos, both with jerk chicken. So good! Lots of food for the money and a really great stop before heading into downtown.
Pizza Time - This was a quick stop for lunch before heading home. We both ordered calzones, and while the crust was perfect and the portion was huge, there was way too much ricotta cheese and very little meat. Next time we go we'll probably try the pizza instead. For the money, it's a good bet.
The Tasting Room - We were ready for drinks after walking around looking at Christmas lights and we found this place. The wine list is extensive, and there is a fair selection of small plate options along with regular dinners. They offer a 4-course dinner option on the menu, which was about $50. Adding a wine pairing is an extra $24. We both agreed that if we were going to spend that kind of money on an option like this, we'd much rather go back to the Chef's Table in Winter Garden. In any case, we chose a Monday Funday special Spanish wine for $30, an order of truffle fries (good but we had better at a place in Napa), and the best Creme Brule I have ever had, hands-down - Coconut. It was absolutely delicious and so creamy!
 |
| Coconut Creme Brule and San Cristobal red blend @ The Tasting Room |
Spanish Military Hospital Museum - The historical home we wanted to visit was closed for Christmas so we toured the hospital instead. The guide, even talking at break-neck speed, was really informative. My favorite part involved the history of the apothecary and use of certain herbs. Very fascinating. At $6 for a 40-min tour, this place is worth a stop! So much interesting history to learn while visiting the oldest city in the US.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Savannah, GA
 |
| The River Street Inn - a nice example of the riverfront architecture. |
Fairfield Inn Savannah Midtown - We stayed in this hotel one night and decided to book another hotel for Saturday night. It was a little bit rundown and not very convenient to get to the historic part of downtown The price savings did not make it worth staying for a second night.
Savannah Residence Inn Downtown/Historic District - Switching to this hotel was a much better option for us. 1) It was more convenient and within walking distance of many more things. It is right next door to one of the Visitor Centers. 2) The fare-free DOT public transportation passes right by. 3) If you can find parking on the street (we got lucky with a spot in front), there is no need to pay for the valet parking. 4) The hotel is in much better shape with more amentities than the Fairfield. I wish it hadn't been pouring outside Saturday night because I really wanted to relax with a glass of wine by the firepit in the courtyard. We are planning to stay here in the future, so the fire plan is most likely going to happen at some point:)
Restaurants
The Cotton Exchange - We were looking for somewhere to eat when we got into town on Friday night, and we chose this restaurant. I had the Shrimp and Grits, and hubby had the chopped sirloin. Both of our meals were OK, nothing to rave about. It's definitely a little pricey because it's right on the river, but the view and the building are fantastic. I doubt that we will come back to this particular restaurant when there are so many others to choose from in the area.
B. Matthew's Eatery - We ate lunch at B. Matthew's on Saturday. It was crowded, but the wait wasn't too bad. The building architure and ambience is enjoyable, and the food is very good! Hubby had a burger with goat cheese, and I had the Fried Green Tomato sandwich with the bacon bleu cheese pasta. Oh so good!!! The brunch menu also looks fantastic, and we will definitely visit this restaurant again when we're in Savannah. The food was quite reasonable for the quality, and the service was quite good. Highly recommend a stop here.
Planter's Tavern (under the Olde Pink House) - I didn't make reservations at Olde Pink House in advance, but I had read that the Tavern below serves the same food and has a terrific atmosphere. What a great idea this was! While we waited for a table, we dried off from the rain by the fireplace and the live music. We each ordered a glass of Atteca for $8 each, which is a great deal at a restaurant if you know this wine. The room is lit by candlelight and really cozy. It was pretty crowded and busy, but I think we only waited about 20 - 25 minutes for our table for two. The menu is the same as you get upstairs in the main dining room, and it is fantastic!!! Hubs had the pecan crusted chicken, which was absolutely delicious. Who knew that collards could be so good?! My chicken pot pie was the size of my hand and about 2 inches deep. Just wow! We loved it here and can't wait to come back.
 |
| Our candlelit dinner at Planter's Tavern |
Things to Do
Green-Meldrim House - Since it was pouring down rain on Saturday, and we wanted to save more houses for when we return with friends, we toured the Green-Meldrim House for $8 each. The plaster work and wood work in the come is absolutely stunning and intricate. The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly. It was a nice stop to get out of the rain, and it wasn't a far walk from the hotel.
Getting Around Savannah
Since we drove into the city from our hotel, I knew that I wanted to figure out parking ahead of time. I found the DOT's website to be extremely helpful because it shows both parking and the fare-free public transportation routes. We only used the DOT once, but I can see where next time we'd use it much more since we plan to stay at the Residence Inn again.
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