Saturday, April 14

Arrived 11:40. People already boarding. Lengthy line that snaked around the terminal but moved reasonably well. As my daughter said: "we've waited longer for Dumbo". Got through security with my rolling wine carrier filled with 8 bottles with no problem. Waited all of one minute to be assisted at the check in counter and were processed immediately on board. We were on the ship by 12:15 or so. First pieces of luggage arrived by 1:30 and the last at 3:20. After some preliminary unpacking, we headed to the Da Vinci MDR for a sit down lunch. The hall monitor at the entrance tried to usher us away from the dining room but we ignored him and plowed past. The matre sat us without issue or the anticipated confrontation.

Had an antipasto and cup of Chick pea and vegetable soup. The only disappointment was that the antipasto was advertised as a "selection of meats", but instead was four slices of one single type of salami. Not bad, but I would have preferred a mix. Wife had hamburger. We did not ask for any special temperature knowing that it would be futile, but received it with the slightest hint of what one could call pink, which was better than expected. Certainly done more than we would have cooked it at home, but not nearly as well done as we feared. Daughter had ravioli with cheese and spinach in a rose sauce. Similar to what one would expect in an " a la vodka" sauce. A nice dish. Iced tea in the MDR was very good. Read more