When I was at school I loved Spam. It was offered every day and on Friday things got really exciting as it was offered……………in batter. Spam was so popular Monty Python wrote a song about it which I used to sing while standing in line to order Spam for lunch………..Spam was part of my world and I embraced it with open arms.
Now I am older, I hate Spam and if someone put it in front of me just the smell would make me feel sick…………….I would rather eat a camel snot sandwich than eat Spam.
I guess my hatred for this mystery of meats must have been shared by some boffin who when the Internet was invented decided to call all the crap and unwanted e mails that nobody wants “Spam” and when I returned home from my holidays today my inbox was full of the bloody stuff.
Now, I am supposed to have a filter thingy for my Yahoo account but it filters bugger all and today when I checked my e-mail I had 56 slices of Spam.
This morning when I logged on to my computer, my inbox was stuffed to overflowing with messages, none of which ever has anything to do with work or messages from friends or George Hamilton. Most are from companies offering me Viagra and loans to pay for it. Then there are e-mails from someone I’ve never met telling me that they had sex last night with someone called Melissa.
I also was threatened with violence today by one of those awful e-mails that states that if you don’t forward it on to at least ten people you will get the bubonic plague…………and die. Today’s such threat came in the form of a beautiful waterfall and beneath it a poem about love for your fellow mankind and how we must all embrace our fellow man ……… then in small print at the bottom were some words telling me that if I didn’t forward this e-mail than I was a complete and utter scum with no more right to live on God’s green earth than a dung beetle…………………who writes these things?
So, here we are, home again and while Heidi unpacks I thought I would drop you a line or two. The journey home was good except that the Range Rover drinks more than Paris and Britney at an open bar and with the price of petrol more expensive than diamonds it was an expensive trip. However, we are both relaxed and have a nice relaxing weekend to look forward to. On Saturday we will go to Alan’s house for a barbecue which means two things…….a photo of Alan as promised and …………food poisoning from an undercooked sausage ………bugger.
Now, as we are talking about food let’s have a serious chat.
I have seen that another cruise line has announced that they are going to start flexible or anytime dining and it was met by mixed reaction on some of the cruise Web pages. Now, as it turns out, I have just learned from PA 007 that indeed Carnival has been planning for some time to try this option on one of our ships and will commence the testing beginning next month. Thanks, PA, for sniffing out this story.
Here is what will happen. The test ship will be the Carnival Legend beginning with the June 29 departure and the most important fact here is that the flexible dining option is to complement…………..not replace …………..the assigned dining times.
So, guests will have the option of arriving at one level of the dining room within specific times ………5:30 pm – 9:30 pm….. and request a table. Meanwhile, if guests prefer the classic assigned seating and being served by the same staff each night……..well that option is still there too.
Now, to me……….this is like having your Chocolate Melting Cake and eating it too because, unlike some other lines, we are still giving you the option of either open or assigned seating.
I know that some will stick with what they know and keep the assigned dining option …………however…………….we realize that times change and we more than others are ready to change with it. Some like the flexibility of eating ……………. well…………….when they are hungry and that’s when the anytime dining comes into play. To me, it’s the best of both worlds.
Again, this will start soon on the Carnival Legend only and at the time of writing there are no other plans to include other ships just yet…………….however……………if this is popular then I hope we will make this available on other ships in the fleet.
I need your feedback and I will answer your comments and questions on this subject so please …………as many of you as you can…………….even first-time posters………………just write me a few words ………just say YES to this option or NO……..I prefer assigned seating and if you want tell us why you prefer what you do.
This blog thingy is your voice and I promise you that it is read each and every day by all the top folks at Carnival…………..some of whom will probably be quite upset that I am releasing this information early to my blogging friends………not to worry though………….. so, please…………..speak up…………..let’s hear what you have to say…………….it’s your blog, your dinner………….and your cruise line.
I read a comment from Tim Kriebel MCPO who has just retired from serving 23 years in the United States Navy and who after protecting our freedom for all those years …… well………..all he wants is……….a solid gold plastic trophy.
Well, Tim…………….when you cruise on the Carnival Valor a trophy will be waiting for you and it is awarded to you not just by me but by all the thousands of readers who applaud your service and wish you a happy retirement.
Here is the last installment for a while from Bubba and his trip to Hawaii.
Luau is Hawaiian – For YUMMY!
Well it’s not really, but that was what I was thinking the whole day thinking about going to this, and I was glad to say I was not disappointed when I got there. This was a definite highlight of my entire time out here. Luaus are held for celebrations!
The luau is done on one of the late night ports and is a MUST do for the complete Hawaiian experience. We met around 5-ish to go over to the place. Once we got over there it took a few minutes to get check in and get our seat assignments. We went with the majority of the entertainment staff and their significant others. Think there were about 25 of us or more. They had our group in two different sections. There was regular seating with tables and chairs…then there was the traditional seating where you sat at a low table with a mat on the ground. The benefit of that is you are right in the front row for the show.
The doors opened at 5:45pm, and we were greeted with a Lei & a Mai Tai. The place was absolutely beautiful. There was a stage in the middle of the place surround by tiered levels of tables and chairs. Around the area there were lots of great places for photo ops and some of the staff of the luau doing demonstrations of games, hula and arts and crafts.
A very large Polynesian man handing out the Mai Tai’s on the way in.
Julie & I getting lei’ed
Great Hawaiian Band getting you in the mood for the party.
The stage in the middle there, with all of the tables around
One of the luau staff doing some arts and crafts. They had people doing wood carvings and making lots of things out of palm tree leaves.
I wandered around checking out the locals doing their thing, while helping myself to a couple more cocktails. Did I mention it’s an open bar???? Had a thing called the LAVA FLOW. Absolutely fantastic. The cocktail menu included….
Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Chi Chi, Lava Flow, Blue Hawaii, Green Passion, Hawaiian Sunset, Margarita, Honey Girl, Little Tita, Long Island, Long Beach, Nalu Special, Mellow Dramatic and beers, wine, sodas, juices….So they make an announcement that they are about to take the pig out of the oven, so head over to the fire pit to check it out. So of course I do…cause I love BBQ. Spent some time with some Argentineans on one ship, they know how to Q, but the Hawaiians got a different way of doing things which I thought was fascinating. The cook the meat underground – in a firepit called an IMU.
So there’s a whole in the ground where they burn wood and then place a certain kind of rock found in the waters of Hawaii. They get those rocks really hot, then the place the meat over the rocks in the hole. Then they cover the whole thing with Banana leaves. Then they cover the leaves with a sheet, and then cover it with dirt. They basically steam the pig. And about 10 – 12 hours later, you got some good eatin.
So they make an announcement and these guys tell you how they do it as they start to remove the pig from the oven. Of course everyone goes and checks it out. It was amazing.
The foils around the pig are filled with a typical Hawaiian dish made from pork butt & spinach.So they bring the pig out of the pit and then it’s time to eat! Here’s a look at the menu….
Kalua Pua’s – Roasted pig
Poi
Ahi Poke – Raw Tuna & Maui onions
Mahi Mahi
Lomi Lomi Salad – salmon & tomatoes
Taro Salad
Pohole Salad – made from fern shoots.
Crab Salad – AWESOME
Island Chicken
Pulehu Steak
Fried Rice & Veggies
And more!!!
Sunset as dinner was being served.
Luke – one of the social hosts with his mouth full of deliciousness. The drink in front of him is a Lava Flow.So after a fantastic meal, the sunsets, and it’s show time. The was about an hour filled with Hawaiian & Polynesian Music. There were two Emcees who explained the different numbers that we saw. As I watched the show, all I kept hearing in my head was KC in the Sunshine Band’s “Shake Your Booty” because there was a lot of booty shakin’ in this show. But the costumes were great, the dancers were wonderful and the show was very entertaining.
The night was fantastic. It was tough to go back to the tender and get back to work. Today as I write this it is our last day in Hawaii. Tomorrow we will head across the pacific to Vancouver. But I think Hawaii wants us to remember we were here. Look at this beautiful view of the island from the ship….
I am excited to get over to Vancouver and start the Alaska season. However I must say again how much I enjoyed these islands. I will look forward to our return in the fall.
See you around the Pacific. Chris
Later tonight I will be sending some photos taken of the great English countryside which were highlights of our holiday.
I hope you will excuse me but I need to go and take care of some things including deleting all Spam from my in box most of which is from people I have never heard of.
Then, when you do recognize someone’s name on an e mail you open it to see the dreaded words “attachment” and “this is very funny,” which means they have sent you a joke…………………and so you sit there waiting 20 minutes while your computer downloads something that you hope will be very funny and cheer you up after trawling through all the Spam………… Only to find that yet again……..it’s a picture of a carrot ……………………. that looks like a willy.
I will write later tonight and please………………………….send me your thoughts short or long on the anytime dining scenario.
Cheers
Your Friends
John and Heidi
Filed under: Europe, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Chocolate Melting Cake, Hawiia
I enjoyed the assigned dining. However, I like the idea of having two different dining rooms – one assigned and one open seating.
Have a great weekend!
Love anytime dinning!
Hi John/Heidi:
Welcome back from vacation and glad you had a fun time.
I think the freestyle dining (in addition to the regular schedule) is a nice addition. It lends to flexibility so that you’re not held to the exact time to eat. I think CCL should pursue this and see how it works out.
Great blog and photos from Bubba. He did a great job of recapping the luau experience. Thanks!
Hope everything else is well and have a nice weekend.
Take care,
David
Hi John, Thanks for asking my opinion. I like having dinner at 6:15pm at the same table with the same people. That’s our normal eating time at home and my body likes it. We have made friends over the years that we still keep in touch with. There have been times we got to our table on a cruise and I knew instantly it wasn’t going to work. I change tables the next day.
That being said I do think it would be nice to have a anytime dinner area that I could go to when we come back late from a tour. The buffets are nice but sometimes I’d like to have a regular dinner a little later especially when I have had a late lunch and I am not hungry.
I am glad you and Heidi had a nice time in the country. Can’t wait to see the photos and the photos of Alan.
Jo
John, down here in Mississippi we have a saying for Spam, Stuff Posing As Meat. I can’t stand that stuff. Just thought that I would voice my opion on the “anytime dining” I think the way yall are trying with one level of the restaurant for the anytimers and one for the traditionalist is the best way to go. I mean it works for both kind of folks. Glad you had a great time on vacation, ours is coming up in 15 days on the Liberty with Steve as CD. Keep up the good work!
Hey John, glad you had a good time on your vacation. We had anytime dining on Oceania and we kind of liked it. First time for us as we have always chosen traditional dining. We didn’t like having to introduce ourselves & answer basic questions every night, we like getting to know set tablemates & we have been very lucky in having some really fun tables. I think it is a good idea to offer choices.
Jan
Jan
John,
Thanks for the blog. I look forward to reading it every day.
I think having the option to choose you dining style is a good idea. The last couple of cruises I’ve taken, the most recent being on Carnival Freedom, I’ve been with family so assigned seating made sure we all reconnected at some point during the day. If I was traveling as one half of a couple, I would like the anytime option as that would make it easier to plan activities around dinner.
Hi John,
When we on the Freedom we loved having the same team each night. We really got to know them and the experience made the cruise in the Med more enjoyable.
Well, about your aversion to the magic meat. Hawaii is built on pillars of the taste delight
:)
To get rid of the nasty nasty get a copy of Bit Defender. Take all that other garbage protection off your box and put this on. I have used it for years on my boxes some of which carry gobs of financials and I have not had very much trouble with the magic meat.
Try it, you’ll like it!!!!!!
Take care
Herb
hello john
we sailed on Ncl,,free style…and a big NO..they treat you like cattle,,,,,your in then out..and service sucks,,,we love assigned seating,the staff treats you much better,,,and we get to know them by name,,
and they call us by name,,,,hope Carnival dont lower there service with Freestyle,
Carnival is by far the best cruise line afloat…
the crew are so freindly ,
so that our vote,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,dump
FREESTYLE,,,let NCL keep it
CARNIVAL CONCIERGE MEMBERS
tom & jane
Good morning John!
Weather channel this morning said that London was 78 today………guess summer is lasting a few more days.
Spam………….mmmmmmm one of my favorite things but way too much salt so it is on my no no list same as sugar is on yours.
64 days until I join you and Heidi on the Splendor and I am really getting excited…….can I start packing now? So many things to do and see thank goodness the days will be nice and long just like here in Juneau so we can cram in more things.
Why are vacations always too short? Thank you for always including us in yours.
I am not in favor of anytime dining!! Most of the time I am a single female traveling on my own and look forward to that assigned dinner time with a set group of people each evening. It has been hard for me to learn how to meet new people and make conversation and it is very stressful for me if you have to do it every time you want to dine in the main dining room. There that is my 2cents worth!
Kersplott
I prefer traditional dining – getting to know a table of new faces and making friends is another aspect that makes cruising an adventure as opposed to just a holiday.
Glad you enjoyed your holiday – isn’t the weather blinding? I’m as red as a lobster and was able to swim off Bournemouth without losing essential parts of my anatomy!
Gav and Em
Hi Chris akaBubba!
And now you are off for your 5 days at sea…….my most favorite part of that cruise (3 times on Spirit). It is a beautiful blue sky warm day here in Juneau and it is only 1 week until the Spirit visits us. That will be me on the dock welcoming my favorite cruise ship.
While docked at Nawilliwilli have you ever made it to Bubba’s Burgers in Kaha? The teriyaki burger is out of this world………okay not as good as Waffle house but delicious just the same.
Kersplott
Thoughts on the new dining plan… I’ll take the traditional dining… period. I like getting to know my table mates and the folks who do me the great service of taking food and drink orders. Even on a short cruise I tend to feel like these folks are part of my extended family.
Interesting that you have spam (the meat… kinda) and Hawaii in the same blog as the Hawaiians LOVE Spam!!! It’s often called ‘Hawaiian steak’. I’m with you, John. If it’s not recognizable as meat it’s not going in my mouth.
What a thrill to hear that we will finally get to see your mate, and our friend, Alan!! Will he be able to join us on the Blogger’s Cruise? I hope he will.
Pass along my thanks to all the good folks who work so hard on your Thingy while I sit and wait for the onslaught of photos that you’ve promised!!
Thanks so much!
GregB
Hi John,
I’ve been reading faithfully , but haven’t written in ages. But I’m smacking my lips on the dinner choices. That’s a great idea. I do enjoy the assigned seating, as I’ve met many great people that way, but when you’re on 2-week cruise in particular, there are just some nights that you want to relax and eat dinner when you’re ready without having to resort to the buffet because you weren’t ready or hungry. Fine dining is one of the main attractions of cruising, after all. I give it 5-stars. Keep up the British end! You’re the best!
I’m all for anytime dining as long as the people who want traditional can still have their style.
I personally am VERY glad I took my Legend trip before this got implemented (loved it by the way). I enjoy meeting up with table mates and making new friends that way. I would have been bummed not to get to know my new table mates better and having to arrange when to eat and such was just a problem. I also have minor allergies which were addressed better by having the same waitperson who knew about the allergy and could make recommendations as to how to avoid it.
I’m sure many will love it, I personally say, “NAY!”.
Since the majority of our cruising has been done with Carnival, we have become accustomed to assigned seating. The only time this is a problem
is coming back late from excursions.
See ya’ll in 65 days!
It is great that Carnival has come up with a dining option that allows people to make a choice as to when they want to eat. I for one would choose the anytime dining for the flexibility, while others may not enjoy that much flexibility and need to follow a set schedule. That is the joy of being on a vacation, whatever makes you happy, do it!!
Love the “anytime” dining! Makes sense to eat when you’re hungry, not when someone else thinks you’re supposed to be hungry.
We tried the flexible dining option on a recent “Something of the Seas” cruise and were very pleased with the results. It sounds like your test is similar to their test. We would certainly do it again and would love to see Carnival offer it.
open dining sounds great especially with the standard seating also offered, good job
NO……..I prefer assigned seating, we like to be with the same waiters and fellow passengers at our table each night. We did it on another cruise line and did not like it.
Hi John & Heidi,
Welcome home.
Your spam sounds a lot like my spam, especially when I’ve been away from the office for a while. We also have a filter on the system, but for some reason, filters out friends of mine, and not the Viagra (I get them too!) and “We’d like to be your bank” ads.
Can’t wait to see the pictures of the English countryside, and, pictures of Alan and his family. Have a great time with them.
Bubba’s luau looked very appetizing – so did the Lava Flow. What exactly is it?
Before I forget, I vote for the flexible dining. But truthfully, that’s very close to what we have now. Assigned dining room table & choice of going to Lido Deck Buffet or Supper Club. There are times when waiting until 8:30 is not such a good idea, but after a long day on a shore excursion a nap before late dinner is a very good thing.
Ok, I’ve had my input.
John & Heidi, wish both your Moms a Happy Mother’s Day, and have a good weekend,
Hugs,
Carol
SPAM – the junk mail and the mystery meat – YUCK!!! As far as dining options go….my only experience is with the classical, assigned seating. This works well for us and we vote YES, keep it!
Lori and Tom Caskey
One more day and the Sheriff takes over the Glory!!