Shadowmeboy's Star studded Christmas Mexican Riviera review!

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

USS Iowa

 

 

looking back at the Catalina ferry dock

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

The USS Iowa is such a beautiful ship.

 

 

 

Full boat view

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

As we passed the Ports O'Call Restaurant, They wished us safe sailing and good seas over their PA System. Susan and I found that really cool.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Pilot boats

 

 

 

Port of LA fire boat

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

My Mother loves lighthouses, so you will see several pictures of lighthouses dotted throughout the review. This is the Port of LA lighthouse.

 

 

 

 

I tried to get several shots, so she could paint one.

 

 

 

The Sun is setting over Catalina Island.

[claireruth]

I couldn't figure out why the post ended, then realized you're probably still updating it. :) I'm from Washington (grew up in Renton and Bellevue but now live in AZ), so i loved your "en route" pictures. We just booked this itinerary for October but on the Bliss, so I'm looking forward to your pics from the ports since we'll be on a different ship. Can't wait for the rest of your review!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Out of the Port we go!

 

 

See you in a week LA!

 

 

As it was getting towards 5:00 pm we headed to the Spa raffle.

 

 

Pilot boat pulling away after collecting the pilot, taken from the workout classroom.

 

 

 

several others had the same idea. Unfortunately, neither of us won anything.

[shadowmeboy]

After the spa raffle, we went back to the stateroom, unpacked a couple of the bags which showed up and then got ready for dinner.

 

We headed up to deck 13 mid for our 7:30 pm dinner reservation at Moderno.

 

 

 

 

The Salad Bar

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

My salad bar plate

 

 

Susan's plate

 

 

My very beautiful wife!

 

 

the sides came, all we need is the meat.

 

Bring the Meat!!!!

 

 

Susan's pretty plate, with the Cod. Note: When we were on the Escape, they didn't have the Cod on the menu, so we were happy to see it on the Star. Susan's was light and flaky. Mine was tough and slightly overcooked. I was sad. Luckily, Susan only wanted a little of hers so she let me have the rest of her Cod.

 

 

Then we have the Pineapple. OMG is so good. More please!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Dessert time!

 

 

Papaya Cream

 

 

Coconut Flan

 

 

We return to the stateroom and find these on the bed!

 

 

We also decorated our stateroom for Christmas.

 

[shadowmeboy]

Clearer look

 

 

 

 

 

Susan is holding up the stocking we made for our room steward, its full of little goodies. candy, gum, and other little things they might appreciate. We also included a tip. We gave this to our steward on Christmas Day.

 

 

The Meet and Greet door prize stockings we made for the Meet and Greet the next day.

 

We get everything situated, sit out on the balcony for a little while, then set our clocks forward an hour to mountain time, and crawl into bed. We let the motion of the ocean gently rock us to a restful sleep.

[shadowmeboy]

I couldn't figure out why the post ended, then realized you're probably still updating it. :) I'm from Washington (grew up in Renton and Bellevue but now live in AZ), so i loved your "en route" pictures. We just booked this itinerary for October but on the Bliss, so I'm looking forward to your pics from the ports since we'll be on a different ship. Can't wait for the rest of your review!

 

I grew up in Renton and lived in Maple Valley, before moving to Oregon. After College in Seattle, I moved out to North Central Washington.

 

The time changes were a bit much. You start in Pacific and go all the way to Central to go all the way back.

[amarvel]

Okay I know this is a silly question but did they have the plantains as a side at Moderno? I love them on the jewel but they didn't have them on the pride of America last month and I'm curious if I'll be able to get them on the star :-)

 

Loving this review!

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[shadowmeboy]

Okay I know this is a silly question but did they have the plantains as a side at Moderno? I love them on the jewel but they didn't have them on the pride of America last month and I'm curious if I'll be able to get them on the star :-)

 

Loving this review!

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

Yes, they were there.

 

Thank you!

[purpleally]

I have to chime in and tell you I love how you do reviews

So happy to have stumbled upon them!

Thank you for taking the time to do these.

I have a question but you don't have to answer - I see that you are VIP but haven't been able to determine how you got that status?

[LeesaB]

Love the decorations! I also love that you made up a stocking for your room steward. How thoughtful.

[shadowmeboy]

I have to chime in and tell you I love how you do reviews

So happy to have stumbled upon them!

Thank you for taking the time to do these.

I have a question but you don't have to answer - I see that you are VIP but haven't been able to determine how you got that status?

 

We received VIP status for setting up the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet on this sailing. Whether you get it it or not will be determined by the ship’s Hotel Director. I have led 3 Meet & Greets. Two we had VIP and one we did not. I do not expect it, so when we get it I am happy.

[shadowmeboy]

Love the decorations! I also love that you made up a stocking for your room steward. How thoughtful.

 

Thank you. More on the decorations to come.

[shadowmeboy]

December 23rd, 2017 - Sea Day

 

Here are the dailies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

After waking up, i went outside on the balcony and checked the weather.

 

 

Clear skies - Check

 

 

Calm seas - Check

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We headed up to VIP Breakfast.

 

 

looking down on Java Cafe in the atrium

 

 

Looking up at deck 12 and 13 and the windows above 13

 

 

VIP/Suite Breakfast menu

 

 

Breakfast spread

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

My breakfast appetizer selections.

 

 

Susan's selections

 

 

I had Crab Cake Benedict, along with french pressed coffee!

 

 

Susan had Fruits de Mer in Brioche

[shadowmeboy]

After breakfast, we returned to the stateroom to get the stuff we needed for the Meet and Greet. We had a little time, so out on the balcony we went.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met Lynn, who was running the slot pull, down in the casino, and we figured out which machine was best. She reserved it with the casino host for after the Meet and Greet.

 

Susan and I headed to La Cucina early to get our stuff set up.

 

 

This is the invite/reminder Susan made for those who requested one.

[shadowmeboy]

We were having an Ornament exchange at our Meet and Greet. So I made up little slips that were tearable to run the ornament exchange.

 

 

 

An empty La Cucina

 

 

 

 

Officer list for our sailing

 

People started to roll in at 10:45 and we got started at 11.

 

 

Officers from Left to Right

Gary Alldredge - Guest Service Manager; Jude Pereira - Executive Housekeeper; Joe Borges - Beverage Manager; Noriel Alicaway - Executive Chef; Vitor Manuel Nunes Da Silva - Food and Beverage Director; Thomas Hopkins - Cruise Director; Esteban Chorro Jimenez - Restaurant Manager; Djamel Benatmane - Hotel Director Not pictured: Dela Auguste - Group Services Coordinator

 

We want to thank the officers for their time attending.

[shadowmeboy]

 

Susan took this one off to the side.

 

 

Djamel was really funny when introducing everyone and kept everyone's attention.

 

After the officers finished and headed out. We did some door prize drawings for the stockings we made up. Each stocking had some candy canes, candy, and a hand painted ornament in each one along with a scent circle. (Susan is a Scentsy consultant so she added that to each one!)

 

 

the ornament exchange - each person participating was to bring an ornament that represented where they came from.

 

 

 

 

Here is the ornament we got. It was from Santa Barbara, California.