My Drinking Views....

When I first book a cruise I don't think about the interesting ports we will visit.

I don't think about the wonderful food on board.

....or the great entertainment.

I think a little about the amazing ship - I think they are all amazing, but Ovation is more so.....

What I think about is the cocktails I will be enjoying. I love taking photos of 'my drinking view' and a cruise ship (with a drinks package) is the perfect place to enjoy a few cocktails. On embarkation my first drink is always a mojito. I started this way back in 2009 and on each and every cruise that is my first drink. Here we are in the Two70 - where we also had our first lunch on board.

 After lunch we explored to ship and came to the next bar - Music Hall - where I still wanted to enjoy another mojito. First day is like that 😀.

 Each morning the first drink is the freshly squeezed orange juice.

 Some mornings I would enjoy a chocolate frappe, while Peter would have his after breakfast latte, or a lemon lime and bitters.

 As I said, a drinks package is a great way to try all different types of drinks, and there are so many to choose from. Prices are in US$, so at today's exchange rate (Dec 2019) a glass of Prosecco on board would cost $US11 =$AUS16

A beer around $US8 =$AUS11.65
Cocktails at $US14 =$AUS20.38
I tried a number of different cocktails and even started to rate them for next time - see above.

....and my drinking view - Music Hall above, Two70 below drinking a margarita.

I tried a Bellini a few bars, both different and neither a real Bellini - Celebrity Solstice is the only ship where I can get a real Bellini in any bar.

There was a cocktail of the day at a cheaper price each day, as we were sailing on Halloween there were cheaper Halloween cocktails.

I had a Witches Brew, and Peter had his daiquiri.

It is fun trying different drinks, and there was only one that I couldn't drink - can't remember the name, but all the rest were yummy. I still have my favourites - Mojitos, especially with lunch.

....or when something refreshing is wanted at showtime.

Another daytime favourite was a mudslide.

Evenings I enjoyed chocolate martinis

The Bionic Bar was interesting, and we never got to try it - just never there at the right time.

A drinks package for us is usually worth it, but we always check the updated prices and make our decision on that. Different cruise lines have different prices. On this Ovation Cruise, we booked about a year ago and the package included a deluxe drinks package for all of us in the room, even though Jon doesn't drink, he enjoyed some of the mocktails.

This blog has made me thirsty - off to make a chocolate martini!

What Will We Do Next? - Entertainment and Activities

People go on cruises for many different reasons. One reason is the included activities and entertainment. There is always something going on in different areas of the ship.

Some like to spend each day in and around the pools on deck 14. There is a kids splash area and outside pool, as well as an under cover pool, and a great indoor adults only solarium with small plunge pools, three levels of relaxing sit in pools, and hot tubs. Usually on cruises with an adults only area there are children, either sitting with their parents or running through. The Solarium is not a thorough fare, and therefore we saw no children at any time we were there. There were some noisy adults, but most of the time it was a relaxing quiet place to be, especially on port days.

The Royal Casino on deck 3 is also a popular venue at all hours of the day and night. We were heading back to the cabin about midnight one night when we passed a lady who was on her way to the casino. Peter enjoyed a flutter a few times during the cruise.

Included in the cost of the cruise, but need to be booked, are: The North Star, I-Fly, and Pixels. We used the app to pre-book all three about 8 weeks before the cruise. The North Star went high above the ship and swung out to the sides over the water. The views of the ship were amazing. We arrived 10 minutes before our booked time and were second in the booked line queue. There was also a queue for those who hadn't booked, just in case there was room. It went a long way around one side of the pool (the smoking side - yuk) and some did get on our booking time. We had planned to go on it again, but there was always something else to do.

Pixels we had booked for the first evening. It does not run every night, but on the nights it does there are usually two shows. The first show was already booked so we were booked into the 10.45pm show. Late I know, but being first night I knew we would be up for it. After dinner we went straight to Two70 on deck 5, for the show. It would have been about 9.30pm and all the front seats were already taken. However, we did get a good table right in the centre. The show was good with real people as well as the robot screens in the production. We would go and see it again another time.

I wasn't going to do the ifly on deck 16, but Peter and Jonnie wanted to do it. They both liked it and Jonnie said he would do it again.

Also on deck 16, right at the back of the ship is the Flowrider - we didn't do it, but it was good to watch.

The Seaplex on deck 16 is where the bumper cars operate. The queues were really long for that. We the bumper cars aren't operating, it is a roller skating rink or basket ball courts or trapeze training. Always something going on in the Seaplex.

There is a rock climbing wall, and shuffle board, a library with cards and board games - always hard to get a seat in the library. Each evening there was a show at 6.30pm, usually repeated at 8.30pm. We went to all the shows but one, and enjoyed each one. There were two Production shows on the cruise and we were surprised there wasn't three on a 12 night cruise. The Beautiful Dream was very good and I think if I see it again I would see more detail of the story.

The other production show, Live.Love.Legs. was like a Vegas showgirl show. It was ok, although I believe it was a a shortened version due to the rocking of the ship. It had been cancelled from the night before due to the rocking. Many of the shows were comedians and they were funny.

The Aussie Boys were excellent and sang all Aussie songs.

Other evening activities were bands and musicians in the bars and lounges. Our 'go to' places were Two70, and the Music Hall. Two70 during the day had music, trivia, enrichment programmes and movies - it also had the wonderful view out the back of the ship. At night it became a disco and also had themed shows. The back windows that gave us a wonderful view during the day became a wide screen at night.

Seats were sometimes hard to find in Two70, especially if Bingo was going to be held 1-2 hours later.

We sailed at the end of October, so had a Halloween party in Two70. We went straight after dinner and could only get a seat at the back behind the tables. It was very crowded.

Our other go to place, especially at night was the Music Hall. I loved this venue. One could always get a seat, although not always with a view of the stage.

 The bands here were very good at night.

The Music Hall is on two decks 3 and 4. Deck 3 has a dance floor, stage and bar. Deck 4 has pool tables and a bar. Trivia and enrichment talks were also held here. I went to a few trivia's and all the enrichment talks which were about the bushranger Ben Hall. 

Boleros bar we sometimes went to before dinner. Peter liked their daiquiris. Schooner bar was always packed and the only time to get a seat in the evening was late at night. Kelly, the pianist, was very popular.   

 The Amber & Oak pub had live music at night and was also packed. We never got seats there at night. Did I say it is a big ship?!?!?

 I have probably left a lot of activities out. There is an Escape Room and on the last sea day the Two70 hosted a 60 minute mystery which was hard and very interesting working in groups. Just so much to do - if you want to do it.

Cruise Ships - Food Freighters of the Sea

One would never go hungry on a cruise - especially on Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean has available 24 hours a day, food that is included in the price of the cruise. Ovation of the Seas has 11 free or included places to eat and 9 extra cost venues. We ate at least one meal in all but 2 of the included venues - Coastal Kitchen, which is for guests at a higher level to us, and The Grande, which we never got around to.

Once on board we went straight to Two70 cafe, hoping that the 4000+ guests would head for the Windjammer. We were correct. Cafe Two70 has a range of sandwiches, wraps, and salads that didn't change the whole cruise. They will also make hot sandwiches from different whole roast meats and also different soups each day.

It is a very casual area and designed to take your food with you. We mostly ate in the attached Two70 lounge, although we sometimes took a snack back to the cabin and on the morning of cruising The Sounds I did a breakfast run and took breakfast back to the cabin to have on the balcony. The food was very good.

 We like to eat in the main dining room at the same table with the same wait staff and same companions each evening. This ship had four main dining rooms, two for my time dining on Deck 3 - Grande and Chic, with two sittings 6pm and 8pm (actually 7.45pm the doors opened). The two dining rooms for anytime dining on Deck 4 were Silk and American Icon Grill. We did pass the anytime dining a few evenings and there were always queues.

This cruise we had a great table by the window and wonderful wait staff, but it was a table for 4 and only the three of us at the table, most nights. Jonnie preferred the Windjammer and ate breakfast, lunch and some dinners there, although he did come for dessert some nights.

We ate dinners in Chic restaurant each night except one. That night there was only one show and it was 8pm, so we ate in Windjammer - not so good, but I had my Vegemite. We used the RC App for Ovation and it was pretty good, it allowed us to let the wait staff know we would not be there the next evening, and the reason. Now to the food. We like the food in the main dining room, and like the same wait staff. The staff in general are very good and happy to please. Peter asked for two prawn cocktails for appetizers and Hitesh was happy to oblige, and with a drinks package, Jing always made sure Peter never ran out of beer.

The menu has changed from last year, with added prawn dishes and no more cold soups - and I had just got Jonnie use to cold soups for starters! Anyway, each night was a different menu with 4-5 new and different dishes for starters, and 6 starters that remained the same each night. For mains there were 6 different dishes each night and 4 that remained the same. Dessert there were 4 that stayed the same and 3or 4 that changed each night. There was always something we liked.

So here are some photos of just SOME of our dinners.

I loved the watermelon and feta salad, and wished it was on every night.

Peter asked on the second night if there were any curries and every night after that Hitesh had a different curry available, which Peter had all but two nights.

The Desserts looked so good and were so rich.

Peter would have two prawn cocktails each night, usually a curry, and a dessert. Once he discovered the kids menu on the app and apple pie, her would have the kids apple pie each night I would have mostly two dishes either start and main or two starters. I did have a couple of desserts. I was looking forward to the celebratory 50th birthday cake for Royal Caribbean and had it on the second last night. Lucky I ordered it as not everyone in the restaurant got one. It was yummy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Well, that's first day lunch and dinner each night. Breakfast was usually in the Windjammer. Have I said it's a big ship? 😀 Finding a table in the Winjammer is sometimes a problem with so many people. The one night we had dinner there we had to walk around twice before finding a table, then we take turns in getting our meal. Breakfasts were not as bad most days, although one day I just could not find a table so got a bowl and put breaky in that and took it to the Music Hall to eat, as that was where I was going after breakfast. I love breakfast on RC ships because I love crispy bacon. Breakfast for me is scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, hash bowns, fruit and pancakes (or french toast or something sweet). Peter would often have an ommlette, and I had one one day but it as too big to eat. With a drinks package, fresh squeezed orange juice each morning was great.

 I love my Vegemite. I know from experience that cruise ships in the beginning of the cruise season often do not have Vegemite available so I bring my own. This ship did have jars, but one had to ask for them as they were behind the counters. I'm not using a jar someone else has stuck their knife in - who know what germs it would hold.

 Windjammer when empty looks quite big - but with so many people it was crowded at meal times.

We had one breakfast in the Solarium Bistro - didn't think much of that. It was a buffet and the choices were limited, as was the seating.

We also had an al la carte breakfast in Silk restaurant which was lovely. No trying to find a table, being waited on, and a great breakfast menu. I had perfect eggs benedict, lovely pastries and strong tea. It is only open early hours of the morning, so we made the effort to get up and leave Jonnie sleeping. Good choice.

 The last morning of the cruise, which was very civilized and unrushed - considering how many people needed to get off we were surprised at the ease. We didn't even leave our cabin until 7.45am. We chose American Icon buffet for the last breakfast. Again we didn't have to find a seat and we were taken to a window table but not shown where the buffet was. After walking around the restaurant we found it at the opposite end of where we were sitting. We had breakfast and watched passengers disembarking. Choices again were limited, and with Jonnie liking rice for breakfast I asked if there was any. The staff went up to the Windjammer and got him a bowl - how is that for service!

 This main dining restaurant has some very interesting art work.

We also got snacks at Sorrentos pizza and the Cafe. The cafe had minimal snacks but the pizza next door was good. Peter hates queuing.

We didn't try Wonderland, although I would have liked to, but st $A90 each it was a bit much. Looked fun though.

 

 

Izumi is a Japanese themed restaurant that Jonnie would have loved.

 

Another extra cost restaurant was Jamie's Italian - it always smelt lovely walking past.

 Some of the seats didn't look comfortable though.

Overall the food was good and plentiful and the wait staff wonderful. Can't wait to do it again.