Bittersweet Symphony - 3/9/19 Review

[CanadaCathi]

I have lots of arbitrary rules that I live by, but one of the serious ones when we travel is – eat local. Never, ever eat something you can eat at home. I like to cook, and bake, and I love to eat (as you can tell by my svelte figure), so when I travel, I like to try new things; or at the very least, have things that aren’t Wendy’s or The Cheesecake Factory. There’s nothing worse than traveling with other people, and when you’re trying to decide on dinner they’re all like, ‘Hey, we’re in luck, there’s an Applebee’s!’, meanwhile you’re in Texas and there’s an awesome gas station brisket place. I tend to rely on Yelp, but also instinct, since even stupid people post on Yelp. I have learned to never ask the concierge (because they’re paid off). I ask locals where they eat, and I ask taxi drivers what their fares say after they’ve picked them up from a restaurant.

 

We had fought bitterly for at least six months about whether we’d get Mexican (there is NO good Mexican in Ontario), Cuban, or Seafood. We finally settled on Seafood, and I found a little place quite a lengthy taxi ride from the hotel, CJ’s Crab Shack. We headed to dinner early, around 4:45p, since we were hungry and I always vote for leave early, back early. With tip the cab was $20 each way. Our tab at the restaurant was a hilarious $168, but it was totally my own fault; stone crabs were in season, and I figured this was probably the one chance Jellybean would have to try them (girlfriend LOVES some crab). Also, I drank A LOT. I love to drink, and I rarely get to do it because I’m watching the kid, or driving, or whatever.  So yeah, the restaurant was casual, there were plenty of locals (a whole bunch of cops came in and ate), there was a cigarette girl which of course Jellybean had never seen in her life, and there was lots of good people watching (so many great booty outfits!). When we left, there was a dude on a bike with a lemur in the basket. And boy, was it ever miami (Jelly and I decided that was now a verb, which I thought was appropriate). I tried to convince her to stroll around a bit, since the real fun people were just starting to hit the streets, but she was pretty freaked out. She was also super irritated that I was a little tipsy and thought everything was hilarious, and that I kept yelling 'Hey HEY hey!' at everyone. It took a bit to catch a cab, but we made it back to the hotel for an early bedtime. Last sleep before the cruise!

 

By the way, there is going to be SO MUCH FOOD PORN in this review. I love to see what people eat when they're traveling, so I tend to take lots of pics of the food when I cruise. So yeah, you seriously want to have a snack while you're scrolling.

 

This is $40 worth of stone crab. So basically $10 each.

 

Her dream meal. She ate every last bite, crackin' and pickin' like a pro (we eat a lot of buffet crab legs at Original Benjamin's in Myrtle Beach, she's loved crab since she was two and would holler, "MORE CWAB, MAMA!" while waving a tiny fork at me menacingly).

 

Yay drinkies! I think this was rum punch. I love rum punch. Refills were discounted.

 

So, so mortified. 

Edited March 23, 2019 by CanadaCathi

[tcmagnum]

Love a post with a sense of humor.  Following!!!

[akcruz]

Great start, we actually live in North Myrtle Beach so know Benjamin's well.  Looking forward to more!!

[deedle7544]

Loving your review!  I embarrass my 18 year old all the time! Lets cruise together and watch them cringe, LOL!

[PhoenixCruiser]

Cannot wait to read more!

 

I don't think a lot of Miami hotels have shuttle service to the airport or cruise ship terminals.

[deliver42]

Cruisegirl1, That's what I was talking about in the bathroom. The shower was large, but at the expense of the rest of the bathroom.

[Grandma Dazzles]

10 hours ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

Cannot wait to read more!

 

I don't think a lot of Miami hotels have shuttle service to the airport or cruise ship terminals.

 

Never had a hotel without a shuttle, but some of them are not free.  Airport shuttle has been free and then a charge of around $8 per person to the port. It’s usually cheaper to take Uber or a cab if there is a family. I tend to stay in the airport or port area though, perhaps that makes a difference.  Staying at the airport Crowne Plaza very soon - they have both - at least according to their website and previous stays. 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2019 by Grandma Dazzles

[Andy C]

Following along.  Next time try Joe's Stone Crab on Miami Beach.  It is an institution and has been in operation for over 100 years.  I know a thing or two about the place since this is my hometown after all.  

[LINDAE3213]

Was the holiday inn on mid beach?  I am booked for that one this weekend before my allure cruise.

[phabric]

Following along.  I was on the Symphony January 2019.

[RickinStl]

Following! you sound like me if I were to write a review 

 

[tlaffin]

This review is so much fun already! Following!

[cruisegirl1]

 Our Miami hotel  (Hampton Inn airport west ) offered a third-party shuttle for $15 a person. The shuttle service didn’t start until 10:30. We took Uber to the port at 10 AM, got there 20 minutes later for less than $20. 

 

M

[PhoenixCruiser]

7 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 Our Miami hotel  (Hampton Inn airport west ) offered a third-party shuttle for $15 a person. The shuttle service didn’t start until 10:30. We took Uber to the port at 10 AM, got there 20 minutes later for less than $20. 

 

M

 

We did the same from the Hampton Inn and Suites Miami/Brickell Downtown.  Quick and reasonable.

[CanadaCathi]

Day 1 - All Aboard!

Money spent - Hotel breakfast $15, taxi to port $40, drinks $24

 

Finally, the day we dream of all year long - time to leave! We woke up to beautiful sunny skies at 7a, excited and ready to GO. We had a quick unfulfilling breakfast at the hotel (kids under 12 ate free, so Jellybean just made it). We packed up, looked around, and said - might as well wait at port! We got checked out and hailed a cab at 9:30a.

 

Our taxi driver was the same guy from the night prior, which was nice. It took us about 1/2 an hour from the hotel, and as we got closer the traffic got crazier. I started hyperventilating when I saw an immense long line of people, but it turned out to be all those people from the previous week's sailing, who had to be pulled off the ship at the very last minute kicking and screaming. Let me tell you, DON'T DO THIS. The crazy long line of people was the taxi line, getting cabs one family at a time. I know it scared more than one arriving future passenger!

 

We breezed into the port at 10a, where there were lots of friendly people directing people where to go, and zero lineups anywhere. The Royal app was VERY SLOW to load, so a word of advice - print your sea pass(es)! I was up in the seating area by the time mine finally appeared on the screen. It took us like 2 minutes to get through and up to the waiting area. They had a table assigning arm bands to kids for muster stations, but unlike previous cruises/ports, nothing else; there were no lanyard vendors, they didn't have reps from the kid's club, there were no Wow bands. We saw a family that we'd chatted with from, err, another online cruise group (cough cough), so Jelly had a friend to hang out with, and the girls made plans to meet up once on board.

 

I expected a long wait, and was shocked when the announcement came on at 10:45a - WE'RE READY TO BOARD! We were on the ship by 11:10a.

 

Captain - Rob

Cruise Director - Simeon

Drink of the Day - Starboard Madras

 

We started with a quick tour of the ship, especially the areas that were new to us as compared to the Oasis. First impression of El Loco - nice outdoor seating option, awesome taco toppings bar area, colorful and inviting. But that wasn't going to be lunch, because lunch is always a kummelweck for us on the first day. I know people bicker constantly here about whether they're too fatty, or the best thing in the world, or the worst - all I know is, I love 'em, and I've had the real thing in upstate NY. The Central Park Cafe had a nice salad bar, which I didn't remember having on Oasis, although limited dressing options. Fountain drinks available were lemonade, iced tea, mango, and strawberry-kiwi. There were also a ton of hot tea options, which Jelly was impressed by (Chai, English breakfast, Earl Grey, etc). The Solarium on this ship is just beautiful, and as always was one area I just didn't really get to spend time in; I will make it a priority on a future sailing, I swear! I have never eaten a single meal there, and I'm an adult! (at least I'm told I am)

 

Thar she blows!

 

The port is as beautiful as you've been told. 

 

As is the Solarium.

 

Even the bathrooms are nice!

 

I had one of these just so I could tell you people about it. It was good. Aren't I helpful and self-sacrificing?

 

Love the design of this place. And the food is pretty decent.

 

Kummelwecks FTW. YES I HAD TWO.

Edited March 25, 2019 by CanadaCathi

[tcmagnum]

20 minutes ago, CanadaCathi said:

I had one of these just so I could tell you people about it. It was good. Aren't I helpful and self-sacrificing?

 

Kummelwecks FTW. YES I HAD TWO.

Love.  Love!!  Your review is great.  So great of you to have one of the drinks of the day for us.  Team player!!  And I would have had 2 of the sandwiches also...

[Paulette3028]

On 3/23/2019 at 12:34 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

 We were on the same cruise as the OP so I am anxious to hear her story.

 

The difference between you and me is that you comment that the bathroom was small and was taken up by the shower. When I walked in, I thought that the shower was nice and large.   

 

M

I have to agree with you.....we have sailed on many other ships and on Harmony and Allure in the Oasis class and the Symphony bathroom and shower specifically seemed much better....it did not have the rollaround shower door, but rather a regular door into the shower and it seemed a bit bigger inside, more squared off than circular.  

[Paulette3028]

35 minutes ago, CanadaCathi said:

Day 1 - All Aboard!

Money spent - Hotel breakfast $15, taxi to port $40, drinks $24

 

 

 

Captain - Rob

Cruise Director - Simeon

Drink of the Day - Starboard Madras

 

 

 

Simeone is usually the Host of the Comedy Club.....since he was serving as Cruise Director was he also hosting the Comedy Club or was someone else doing that.....do you know?   We have sailed with Simeone as Host of the Comedy Club a couple of times....so curious as to how you enjoyed him as CD.

[ValerieJo]

Loving your review. Doug and I were on with you on the cruise.  Enjoyed meeting you and Jellybean.  Here's suggestion for dinner that you can add to your Word Document for next time in Miami.  (I totally agree about eating local and No Chain Restaurants!)   Anyway we went to a delicious Thai place in Little Havana, kind of crazy I know.  A lady I was sitting on the plane next to suggested it as she was a local.    It was called Lung Yai Thai Tapas  be prepared to wait as it's a small place and very busy.   I'm ready to go back 🙂

 

[ramja96]

On 3/23/2019 at 6:47 PM, CanadaCathi said:

I have lots of arbitrary rules that I live by, but one of the serious ones when we travel is – eat local. Never, ever eat something you can eat at home.

 

You're my HERO!!

[CanadaCathi]

19 minutes ago, Paulette3028 said:

Simeone is usually the Host of the Comedy Club.....since he was serving as Cruise Director was he also hosting the Comedy Club or was someone else doing that.....do you know?   We have sailed with Simeone as Host of the Comedy Club a couple of times....so curious as to how you enjoyed him as CD.

I thought he was good - my notes say he was 'funny but not obnoxious', which is a tough balance as CD. I did not make it to any comedy shows at all, hopefully someone else can chime in on that. 

[ShillyShally]

Loving your review!  We always try to eat and drink local too!

[CanadaCathi]

19 minutes ago, ValerieJo said:

Loving your review. Doug and I were on with you on the cruise.  Enjoyed meeting you and Jellybean.  Here's suggestion for dinner that you can add to your Word Document for next time in Miami.  (I totally agree about eating local and No Chain Restaurants!)   Anyway we went to a delicious Thai place in Little Havana, kind of crazy I know.  A lady I was sitting on the plane next to suggested it as she was a local.    It was called Lung Yai Thai Tapas  be prepared to wait as it's a small place and very busy.   I'm ready to go back 🙂

 

 

Oh, awesome, thank you! I make a LOT of Thai. How much is a lot? Jellybean was once asked by a classmate at school if she was adopted from China, because she takes so many Asian leftovers in her lunch. I'm a sucker for sticky rice, sweet with mango or dipped in satay sauce, mmmm... or green mangoes with spicy chili salt... or basically any noodle dish...

Edited March 25, 2019 by CanadaCathi

[CanadaCathi]

You HAVE to eat local. Why travel if you're going to get a cheeseburger in every different country you go to? LAME. Sure, I've eaten some things that I didn't really enjoy, or that scoured out my digestive tract and almost forced a plane to land because of the state I left the bathroom in, but you also make some really interesting and exciting discoveries. And ESPECIALLY if you're traveling with kids. I hate to see picky eaters. Jellybean and I once went to a BugFest in Raleigh and ate fried crickets and mealworms, she loves telling that story to people. 

 

My very favorite thing I ever had - I was diving in San Andres, a teensy little Island, and did a scooter tour around the city. There was this gorgeous church and they were community cooking outside, over a fire, in an enormous pot, and there was a bake sale. There was a truly disgusting looking, murky-brown punch in a pitcher on a folding table; I asked what it was, and the woman pointed to the tree above her, and said, "Tamarindo"; it was fresh tamarind agua fresca. And it was DELICIOUS.

[AngVan]

Hey neighbour! I'm on the south side of Rice Lake 😉

 

Can't wait for the rest!