Embarkation: Thought we'd be in for a jam since we heard on the news before leaving that security was heightened in the NYC area and they were searching vehicles on the bridges. We breezed over the George Washington Bridge and down the West Side Highway. Seems it paid to leave on a Saturday! Once we reached the pier it was bumper to bumper, horns honking. Our driver dropped us pretty close to the entrance, the porters took our luggage and off we went. We stood in line maybe 20 minutes, got our key cards, had a group picture taken (there was 5 of us) and on to that lovely ship.
We tried to see if we could drop off carry ons in our cabins, but fire doors were closed. So-- off to Tsar's we went. Not long after we finished our lunch and Big Ken announced the cabins were ready. I so wanted to on a cruise for my 50th birthday back in December but our work schedule just keeps us from traveling at this time of year. This trip was a bit of a delayed celebration. We walked into the cabin to find it decorated with all sort of Happy Birthday goodies and a great big cake. I opened the postcard to see who sent it and it had nothing on it. Long story short it was my Mom who did this. She scurried off to her cabin and called guest services to scold them for not putting her name on the postcard. She came back to our cabin and we were still discussing it. Before she walked in I got a call from room service saying they were delivering my order. My husband couldn't understand the man and I told him "we didn't order anything." All said and done with the confusion and it turned out my mom ordered shrimp from the Bon Voyage Dept. I think they call it "shrimper's delight." We all chuckled and finally enjoyed some delicious shrimp and a piece of birthday cake. It was a lovely surprise!
I enjoyed the menu changes as well as a menu of "everyday" specials. I had a NY strip steak off the everyday menu night and it was cooked to perfection. Every meal from breakfast to dinner was great- cold food cold, hot food hot. Service excellent.