Mike & Tracy’s Excellent Adventure: B2B2B2B on Destiny, Imagination, Valor, Freedom

[lovedogs]

4 different ships for a total of 21 days. Destiny 4 days, Imagination 4 days, Valor 7 days and Freedom 6 days.

 

What an amazing review! Thank you for taking the time to post all of the great pictures. You have a beautiful family and what a marvelous experience to share with all of us who are just a bit envious! :D

[tattoos]

P.S. Don't want to hijack this thread, just a quick note to Mike. My Mom was born in Caraquet, visited there often when we were kids, loved it.

[MikeyA53]

P.S. Don't want to hijack this thread, just a quick note to Mike. My Mom was born in Caraquet, visited there often when we were kids, loved it.

 

Been there several times, your mother must be French since Caraquet is a French community.

[tattoos]

Both of my parents were French Canadian which makes me a 100% French Canuck!!

 

Rose

[MikeyA53]

Thursday, Aug 26th : Sea Day

 

 

Started the morning again with a workout in the gym. Called room service and was told it would take an hour (Forget it) They are usual busier on sea days and then again the service was not as good as on the Destiny. No biggie, it was close to lunchtime and since the dining room is open at lunch on sea days we went to the Pride Dining room for our meal. We both had Caribbean Pepper Pot Soup, Oven Fresh Sun-Dried Tomato Baguette with Shrimp and Crab (the baguette was very fresh, delicious), for dessert Tracy had Creme Caramel and I had Ice Coupe Black Forest. The chocolate buffet was next, had a few more desserts at the buffet, deck 10.

 

 

 

 

Having lunch in the Pride Dining room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the glass elevator

 

 

 

 

 

 

The afternoon was spent doing laundry, packing and laying in the sun.

 

 

 

Next: Chef's table

[Chef P]

Loving it !! :):):):)

[peacefrog]

how many times do you get this?

 

 

Edited October 1, 2010 by peacefrog

[richstowe]

Wow - A Mountie and a Phillie! Very impressive!

[MikeyA53]

how many times do you get this?

 

 

 

 

Never, I guess if I lived in PA it might be a different story. Especially if I grew a small goatee like Ibanez. :D

[Zachsmom]

Great review and wonderful pictures. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[ReelG8r]

 

 

Also in the small shops they had (3) Corona beers on ice for $3.00. They are $4.95 each, plus tip on the ship.

 

3 bucks for 3 beers? My kind of shopping. We'll be there when we are on Solstice in 8 days. Need to know the exact location. :D

 

Love reading/viewing this. Immagination looks almost exactly like Fascination, which was the first ship I sailed on while ya'll were doing the B2B2B2B.

Edited October 1, 2010 by ReelG8r

[peacefrog]

c'mon Mike. Say it right:

 

RAUUUUULLL!!!!

[MikeyA53]

3 bucks for 3 beers? My kind of shopping. We'll be there when we are on Solstice in 8 days. Need to know the exact location. :D

 

Love reading/viewing this. Immagination looks almost exactly like Fascination, which was the first ship I sailed on while ya'll were doing the B2B2B2B.

 

Thanks, the small shop that was selling the 3 Coronas for $3 was in the area where Imagination docked as per my photo. When you first get to the shops you will see a large duty free store selling liquor, the smaller store is located on the left of it.

[MikeyA53]

Chef's table

 

 

We met chef Ajit from India in the Atrium at 6:30 p.m. Dress was casual because of the galley tour. The women were instructed to wear closed footwear so Tracy wore her sneakers. Only eight people signed up for it, the maximum is twelve.

 

We were led through the Pride Dining room towards the galley for a tour. Once there, they served us champagne and hor d’oeuvres. Chef Ajit showed us how they make warm chocolate melting cake and we were introduced to some of his assistant chefs. Chef Ajit also explained how the galley functions (very efficient).

 

The hor d’oeuvres served were Ahi Tuna Tartar, Wasabi Crisp, Duck Pot Sticker, Steak Taco and Avocado Cheesecake. One of the guest had a food allergy to sea food and the chef had prepared a substitute just for her.

The waiters kept our champagne glasses full while we enjoyed these wonderful creations.

 

Then we were escorted to the library for the main courses. The meal consisted of seven different courses served over several hours. Most were small portions so that we were able to enjoy all of them. Our table mates were couples from Puerto Rico, Bermuda and Canada. The courses were as follows:

 

Beef Carpaccio - Parmigiano, Balsamico Gelee

 

Fried Calamari - Charred Lime and Lemon Preserve

 

Fire Roasted Tomato and Poblano Chili Bisque - Grilled Corn, Cilantro Drizzle

 

Chopped Mediterranean Salad - Shaved Pumpkin, Feta Cheese Crumble

 

Fillet of Chilean Sea Bass - Wine Stewed Shallots and Chives Vinaigrette, Leeks Emulsion, Peas Risotto

 

Aged Filet Mignon - Onion Streusel, Homemade Three Pepper Mustard

 

Your Special Made Chocolate Melting Cake - With a Surprise from the Chef

 

The choice of wines were Pinot Grigio (white) and Blanc Opal (red). It basically all you can drink because they never let your glass go down below a certain level.

 

In total there was 7 persons serving us (Chef, Assistant Chef, Maitre D and others).They would all be there when each course was presented by the chef, he would explain how it was prepared and then 5 of them would leave the room including the Chef to prepare the next course. The other two made sure your water and wine glasses were filled at all times.

 

A magician came to our table and entertained us. Each person received the photo shown below and the ladies received a signed cook book by the Chef called ‘ Carnival Creations - Cruise Cuisine from Carnival Chefs. It appears to have all the items served each night in the dining rooms and more.

 

Overall the highlight of our last two cruises, the food was delicious, the company was delightful and the service was superb. If you love gourmet food and you are not a fussy eater it is certainly worth the $75 per person plus tip. We hope that they change the menu on our future cruises because we would love to do it again.

 

 

I wish I had more photos but apparently it's not allowed, sneaked in a small camera and took a photo of the last course, the dessert.

 

 

 

 

Your Special Made Chocolate Melting Cake with a Surprise from the Chef

 

 

 

 

It was close to 10 p.m when we finished and we returned to our room. The two bottles of liquor that had been seized were not in our room. I called housekeeping and I was told they came at 8.00 p.m and no one was there to sign for it.

 

They told me it would be there soon. At 11:30 p.m I called again explaining we wanted to go to bed and was told again it would be there soon. They woke us up at around 1:30 a.m, not happy but not going to let little things put a damper on our vacation.

 

 

Next : Two days at a hotel and then the Valor.

[nothomeonacruise]

That menu sounds exquisite.. what a treat! :)

[jbhcw]

Thanks so much for the description of the Chef's Dinner...and the picture:) Definitely planning on doing this on the Pride in April..we are just off the Fantasy 09-18 and they did not offer it.

 

I noticed some of the dishes were different than what you get in the dining room..such as the Calamari..how was the Chilean Sea Bass?

 

Wonderful job on your review and pictures:):):)

[djmaine]

thank you again for posting this, I cannot wait each time I log on to see if you have written something new.

[billnye97]

Very nice review so far.

[MikeyA53]

Thanks so much for the description of the Chef's Dinner...and the picture:) Definitely planning on doing this on the Pride in April..we are just off the Fantasy 09-18 and they did not offer it.

 

I noticed some of the dishes were different than what you get in the dining room..such as the Calamari..how was the Chilean Sea Bass?

 

Wonderful job on your review and pictures:):):)

 

 

I must say everything was delicious, my favorite was the dessert of course, then the Filet Mignon followed by the Chilean Sea Bass. I just asked Tracy and she agrees with me.

[MikeyA53]

Friday, Aug 27th : Hyatt Summerfield Suites

 

We got up at 8:00 a.m, tipped Gregory (cabin Steward) and had breakfast on the Lido deck. We disembarked at 9:30 a.m. and took a taxi to Hyatt Summerfield Suites to meet Tracy’s parents who had arrived the night before. We were all excited to see them since we had not seen them since our vacation last year.

Let me say that I adore her parents, her mother Rosemary is a sweetheart and her father Peter and I are like good friends. We golf, play Cribbage and have beers at the local pub whenever we visit Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

Love the Hyatt Summerfield, free breakfast, free internet, free airport shuttle or within a 3 mile radius of hotel. $53.20 a night, taxes included (Priceline). Spent the day shopping at the Dolphin Mall.

 

 

 

 

[MikeyA53]

Hyatt Summerfield Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alreadypacked]

Friday, Aug 27th : Hyatt Summerfield Suites

 

We got up at 8:00 a.m, tipped Gregory (cabin Steward) and had breakfast on the Lido deck. We disembarked at 9:30 a.m. and took a taxi to Hyatt Summerfield Suites to meet Tracy’s parents who had arrived the night before. We were all excited to see them since we had not seen them since our vacation last year.

Let me say that I adore her parents, her mother Rosemary is a sweetheart and her father Peter and I are like good friends. We golf, play Cribbage and have beers at the local pub whenever we visit Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

Love the Hyatt Summerfield, free breakfast, free internet, free airport shuttle or within a 3 mile radius of hotel. $53.20 a night, taxes included (Priceline). Spent the day shopping at the Dolphin Mall.

 

 

I love the Dolphin Mall!! I have gotten some of the best deals ever there, and I'm a real bargain hunter! Love the review--keep it coming.:)

[MikeyA53]

Saturday, Aug 28th : Hyatt Summerfield Suites

 

Our very good friends along with their 14 year old son arrived from Canada. We all went to Publix which is practically next door for some supplies for our B2B cruises on the Valor and Freedom ( water and wine).

 

This time we purchased one small bottle of wine 750 ml. and one larger bottle of wine, 1.5 litre for each cruises. Last year on the Sensation we carried onboard one small and one large bottle of wine without any problems.

 

 

Having a good laugh during breakfast.

 

 

 

Next: Carnival Valor

[brittainy]

how many times do you get this?

 

 

 

I so miss seeing him in a Mariners uniform...

Edited October 1, 2010 by brittainy

[MikeyA53]

I want to thank everyone for their kind words. It's very encouraging to hear your comments. I had the first 10 days written out on wordperfect before I first started posting and now I'm scrambling to write a few more days so I can keep up the pace and not prolong this review for too long. It's also very time consuming to sort out all the photographs and therefore I thank you in advance for your patience.

 

Earlier today, Rose (her real name) posted a comment on how people should approach their vacation, for some reason this post disappeared I would love to have her post it again as a reminder to everyone, if its not to much trouble.