Blissfully unaware, we had Afternoon tea delivered to our balcony and enjoyed the sun and calm seas of the Adriatic. We had nothing else to do but relax until it was time for dinner in the MDR-main Dining Room-which on this ship was called the Club Restaurant. We had a table for two at 8.15 pm.
When we boarded the ship on Saturday night I noticed that they had planned to seat us at a table for 8 in the middle of the room so I made a request for a two-top and the Maitre 'd found us a better table.
We like to eat alone rather than with a group of strangers so that we don't have to make small talk.
This way we eat our food while it's hot and can relax. We chat to the waiters instead between courses.
The restaurant has a bar as you go in, so that people can enjoy cocktails before or after dinner- the Club Bar...
The waiters form a line against this mirrored wall to greet guests and show them to their table.
Club Restaurant
On bigger ships there are multiple MDRs and one of them is dedicated to Anytime Dining which means you don't have to eat at a fixed time and can eat anytime between 5.30 and 9.30 p.m.
You have to choose between Anytime and Traditional Fixed dining when you book your ticket.
The majority of people choose Traditional. There are 2 seatings- 5.30 and 8.15 approximately.
When you choose Anytime you will have a different table and a different waitstaff each night.
As tonight, Sunday, was deemed a Formal Night where people are requested to dress well, there would be a photographer working the room. You'll see on in the video later. If you don't want photos taken at the table just let him know and he'll pass you by. No pressure. You don't have to buy the photos taken on the ship but we usually do. They cost $20 for an 8 x 10 inch.
Here are some photos of dishes we ate. You'll find a need to add salt and pepper as when cooking for 680 different people you apparently have to dumb the seasoning down so as not to offend the palette.
Seasoning is of course best applied during the cooking process and not after.
French Onion soup, heavy on the cheese which is the American way as we like cheese. Soon someone will invent a cheese-flavored toothpaste...
Veal Farfalle- a favorite Princess dish of mine
Beef tenderloin. I am very happy with the Princess food. I have yet to have a meal that didn't satisfy and send my taste buds singing!
Carol's Bananas Foster Flambe-which isn't as they don't flambé in a room with such a low ceiling. Fire on a ship is the worst-case scenario.
The beautiful thing about a cruise-one of the many beautiful things- is that when you are done eating and drinking you don't have far to go to your room. No waiting for the valet to pull the car around. No worries about having had too much to drink and drive. None of that. You get in an elevator or in our case walk up one flight of stairs and at the end of the hallway is your room which someone has cleaned for you while you were at dinner.
As it was the Adriatic sea in September it was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy a free beer from our minibar and admire the stars.
On a cruise your room moves while you stay still. No packing and unpacking and driving or flying to your next destination. Our next destination was new to us-Dubrovnik and Croatia....
Here's a short video from our dinner that night....
P.S...on a cruise you don't have to shop for food, prepare it, cook it and then wash the dishes!
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