It is Day 2 onboard the gorgeous Odyssey of the Seas. Right this moment was a sea day on the calm Mediterranean as we make our option to The Holy Land!
We’ve got sea days each at the moment and tomorrow earlier than reaching Cyprus for sooner or later after which three full days in Israel.
I’m utilizing these two days to get a lot of sleep, take it straightforward and drink a ton of water. After loads of wine and cocktails in Paris and Rome, I need to keep slightly extra hydrated earlier than our huge tour days in Israel!
Our morning began late after Angie and I each slept in. I knew I wanted to get some relaxation after the final 5 days of touring and exploring; so, I’m very grateful that we’ve these two sea days to calm down earlier than the busy port days come up.
In the case of these longer itineraries, having just a few sea days scattered all through is crucial for me to reset.
After a restful evening’s sleep, we determined to strive brunch within the eating room at 11am. This brunch was served till 12:30pm, which was one thing new to us! Usually, we discover the Windjammer to serve the newest breakfast possibility, often till 11am on sea days; however we have been happy to search out this brunch possibility obtainable till 12:30pm.
The menu had an assortment of breakfast and lunch choices – a lot of the choices I acknowledged from the traditional predominant eating room breakfast menu.
Angie and I had the French Toast whereas mother and pop each had omelets. I additionally loved my morning latte utilizing certainly one of my day by day drink vouchers. All the pieces tasted good to us.
Bumper Automobiles
After we completed breakfast, mother instructed we head as much as the Seaplex to check out the bumper vehicles. We thought that will be a enjoyable option to begin the day for the reason that line was brief.
As we walked in, we form of laughed to one another at how everybody was driving in a circle – going fairly slowly – as a substitute of truly bumping into one another.
There have been solely two vehicles left within the subsequent group so we determined to trip collectively within the two vehicles. Angie acquired behind the wheel, as did my dad, and I introduced my digital camera for weblog content material.
To begin, these little suckers go quicker than they seem!
Angie thought it could be an amazing thought to run into our mother and father at full pace, which was a horrible thought. She slammed into mother and pop’s bumper automotive in a head-on collision!
Mother and I had the wind knocked out of us and exclaimed some not-so-family-friendly phrases. I additionally jammed my knee in opposition to the dashboard! I feel mother and I took the brunt of the hit since we didn’t have our arms on the wheel to melt the blow.
Listed below are just a few live-action stills from the video I took – mother’s face says all of it!
After we scolded Angie for her lapse in judgement, she become Driving Miss Daisy and we prevented contact with each automotive till the top of the session. It was a enjoyable expertise but in addition considerably of a bust given the collision that was totally preventable!
We laughed about it later however I undoubtedly have a burn from the seatbelt and I’m fairly optimistic I’ll get up with a sore neck tomorrow.
Now, it is sensible why everybody was driving in a circle and NOT participating in a lot of bumping.
After we recovered from the bumper automotive trauma, I made a decision to return to the stateroom and at last unpack my suitcase. I at all times unpack my suitcase and retailer it underneath the mattress. No matter how lengthy a cruise is, I put all the things away as a result of I hate residing out of a suitcase.
Our suite has tons of house to unpack comfortably with six massive drawers and a closet with about 20 hangers and a shoe rack. We additionally introduced a collapsable, mesh hamper to make use of for soiled garments and this matches completely within the closet.
Icon of the Seas Reveal
Final evening once we returned to our stateroom, we discovered an invite to an Icon of the Seas reveal occasion for loyalty members.
As onerous working gals of Royal Caribbean Weblog, we knew we would wish to take a look at this occasion within the Royal Theatre! Upon getting into, there have been servers with tons of various snack choices. I used to be in search of any free cocktails that could be served (in fact), however we acquired there proper because it began so perhaps there have been some however they ran out.
I loved a chocolate lined mousse ball whereas Angie had some strawberry whipped dessert because the presentation began.
We watched the primary two episodes of Making an Icon after which they launched the brand new episode that unveiled Icon of the Seas! Wow – it seems to be gorgeous!
Solarium Afternoon
As soon as the Icon of the Seas reveal occasion was completed, we made our method upstairs to the Solarium.
It was sadly fairly busy in right here, however we have been in a position to snag a desk and chairs close to the aspect entrance. Mother and pop performed cribbage whereas Angie tried out the Massager Taster occasion.
Since I’m an adjunct teacher (along with running a blog and my different company job), I needed to get some grading accomplished for sophistication. I can’t complain concerning the workplace view although and the Wi-Fi onboard has been fairly good to date.
Angie got here again from the Therapeutic massage Taster occasion along with her new favourite cocktail – The Lime & Coconut Cocktail!
I used to be impressed to move to the El Loco Contemporary once more for a fast snack, which consisted of cheese and rooster quesadillas with bitter cream. I completely love this little place on the pool deck for lunch and it hit the spot, once more!
Because the solar was beginning to set, we went again to our cabin to prepare for formal evening. The sundown tonight was so gorgeous from our balcony that we needed to take some footage.
I additionally realized that our balcony has very nice furnishings in comparison with a typical balcony with a plushy seat, again help pillow and padded footrest. I’m undoubtedly going to be spending a while tomorrow on the balcony having fun with the calm seas.
Tales of a Misplaced SeaPass
Whereas heading out the door for dinner, I searched in every single place for my SeaPass card to no avail. I knew I will need to have left my SeaPass (on a lanyard) within the Solarium throughout our afternoon go to.
Earlier than going to dinner, I made my method again to our chairs to search out that all the things was already cleaned up. I requested the gentleman sitting if he had seen my SeaPass, and he mentioned no.
I then made my option to the Solarium Bar and requested the bartenders if anybody had handed in a misplaced SeaPass card. They mentioned no and to verify with the towel attendants, as that’s the place left-behind objects go on the pool deck and Solarium.
As I rushed to the towel stand, I noticed in all my years of cruising that I’ve NEVER misplaced my SeaPass card! Strolling as much as the towel station, I noticed a handful of misplaced and located objects. Low and behold, my SeaPass was there in my lanyard.
Though I knew they might simply make me a brand new SeaPass card if the important thing was actually misplaced, it was a reduction to only get it again and transfer on.
Coastal Kitchen for Dinner
We made reservations yesterday to dine at Coastal Kitchen tonight, as junior suite company can dine right here on a per-availability foundation. We have been advised that reservations can solely be made every day given the variety of Pinnacle company onboard.
I’ve heard from some those who they love Coastal Kitchen as a result of it is an amazing, elevated eating possibility for suite company; alternatively, I’ve heard from others (like our very personal Matt Hochberg) that Coastal Kitchen isn’t essentially something particular or definitely worth the hype.
After tonight’s expertise, I’d must agree with Matt that Coastal Kitchen isn’t one thing I’d rave about.
On a optimistic word, our waitress was very candy and the eating house is absolutely attractive with ground to ceiling home windows. It was good to be in a extra intimate eating setting and check out one thing new. Nonetheless, the meals wasn’t something particular regardless that we had expectations that it could be higher than the eating room.
For dinner, dad and I ordered the rib eye steak whereas Angie ordered a pasta dish and mother ordered a seafood dish. The rib eye was glorious and Angie loved her pasta. Mother wasn’t wowed by her fish or her lobster salad starter both. Dad and I did not love the potatoes or ratatouille served with the steak and Angie felt her soup starter lacked taste.
Dessert consisted of a chocolate bar, cheesecake, creme brulee and apple blossom – most of those can be found within the eating room.
Throughout dinner, the whole room felt slightly too quiet and perhaps even too stuffy for our liking. For reference, we’re a reasonably loud household so we do not ever really feel like we have to hold it down with the commotion of the principle eating room.
Everybody in Coastal Kitchen had their Pinnacle pins on; we joked that we have to order faux Pinnacle pins off Ebay so we are able to slot in higher subsequent time! Our eyes widened as we heard one couple say how they guide two separate junior suites for cruises to allow them to earn 4 factors per evening of their cruise – and so they’ve taken 62 cruises. One other couple responded, “You’ve ONLY accomplished 62 cruises?”
As my mother said, maybe we’re simply extra meat-and-potato people. We’d want to present Coastal Kitchen one other strive relying on the totally different menu choices, however we have been sadly not tremendous impressed tonight with the expertise.
Tomorrow we’re eating at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, which is new to all of us! We’ve dined on the outdated Giovanni’s Desk and Jamie’s Italian, however haven’t tried the reimagined Giovani’s Kitchen.
