Dreaming of Northern Europe: Day 9 – Day at Sea

[Stewboy]

Wednesday 16th August 2023

We were rudely awoken at about 1am by Isabella shouting out in her sleep again – Jo and I almost <expletive deleted> ourselves!

Fortunately everyone got back to sleep until about 8am, when I woke up in a much more normal fashion.

As usual I headed up to deck 11 for coffees and milk and, when everyone was awake (i.e. the children), we got ready and headed to the Walt Disney theatre in order to have our passports checked by UK immigration. This had been announced a couple of days previous and it meant that we wouldn’t have to have them checked when we arrived back at Southampton. As today was a sea day, this seemed like a good use of time, and it only took a few minutes.

With that out of the way we made our way up to Cabanas for our usual breakfast buffet, before heading down to the D Lounge where there was a toddler time dance party.




Cabanas breakfast

There was only about 20 minutes left of the party and there was only one other child in there, but Caleb had fun nonetheless and as it was about to end we saw that Minnie was meeting just outside in the lobby atrium so we went out to meet her.

Following the dance party there was an animation class so Isabella decided to stay in the D Lounge and join that – again, I’m not sure what she drew but no doubt it was very good.


Ready to dance

After a short wait to see Minnie it was Caleb’s turn and he gave her a big cuddle and a kiss on the nose.

As it was a sea day there were lots of open houses and toddler activities throughout the day – first up was Andy’s Room followed by the Oceaneer’s Lab Open House where he got to do more ‘dancing’.




Minnie


Having a sit down in Andy’s room


More dancing

There were also lots of character meets and we wanted to meet Daisy and Donald. Jo and Caleb joined the queue while I popped back to the room to get his Daisy and Donald plushies,

When it was his turn, Donald came and got Caleb and they walked over to Daisy; they both loved the plushies and cuddled them while we got some photos.




Donald & Daisy

We decided to head up on deck, and on the way Caleb enjoyed a little chat with Ariel – well, she chatted to him, I think he was a little starstruck.

It was cold up on deck so we got some blankets and watched Coco on the funnel vision. To help keep warm Jo and I had coffee, and a doughnut which we shared with Caleb – it’s impossible not to, he’s very insistent!


Prince Caleb




Caleb & Ariel


Mmm doughnut




Cuddles

Before heading back inside we showed Caleb Flo’s Cafe area – it’s made up of Luigi's Pizza, Tow Mater's Grill and Fillmore's Favorites. He loved it as he’s a huge Cars fan.


Flo’s Cafe


Luigi's Pizza


Tow Mater Grill


Fillmore's Favorites

Finally we headed back down to the lobby atrium where we were joined by Isabella in watching the diaper dash.

We had hoped that Caleb would be able to participate but he’s walking now so he missed his chance. It’s a real shame because I’ve no doubt he would’ve won – he was such a fast crawler!


Diaper dash

After enjoying the diaper dash we headed off to Cabanas again for some lunch. I had to pop back to the room again to pick up Caleb’s lunch things and found that it hadn’t been cleaned yet. Our stateroom host Alfie has been so good all cruise. I managed to find him down the corridor – turns out he thought we were still in the room and promised to do it asap.

As it was a sea day Cabanas was very busy but Jo had managed to find us a table by the window so we could see the sea. The food was to its usual high standard,




Lunch with a sea view

After lunch it was time for Caleb’s nap, I headed back to the room to find that . Alfie had been good to his word and the room was all ready.

While I put Caleb down for his nap Isabella headed off to another animation class and Jo went somewhere: exploring the ship? Having a relaxing quiet sit down somewhere? Not sure, but wherever she went she eventually returned with coffee.

The Beauty and the Beast show was tonight’s entertainment and, due to it being a sea day, they had put on an additional matinee performance. We decided that Jo and Isabella would go to the late showing (during the second dinner seating) so I could go and watch the matinee performance.

I headed to the Walt Disney theatre, found a good seat and enjoyed the show, which is based on the live action film rather than the original animated version.

Following the show I went back to the room. Isabella was still off doing things with her friends. We woke Caleb up from his nap, got him dressed, and took him down to meet Pluto in the lobby atrium. After that we took him to the nursery – he had a book to show to the ladies but he still got a little upset as he went in but he soon recovered and had a great time again.



We’ve watched the Winnie the Pooh film a lot!








Pluto

Jo and I then headed up to Cove Bar for a ‘drink of the day’ before heading back to the room to get ready (with a glass of wine) for semi-formal night.

Enjoying our ‘adult time’, we headed up to the Meridian Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails: Jo had a La Margarita (casamigos añejo, kalamansi, bergamot purée, yuzu, cointreau) and I had a Cloudylicious (cloudy bay sauvignon blanc, organic jasmine white tea, belvedere, lemon grass). We sat at the bar and experienced the amazing view, and the delicious drinks.


Cove Bar


Semi-formal night








Meridian Lounge

[Stewboy]

Once we finished our drinks we headed back down to the lobby atrium and were pleasantly surprised to find that free drinks were available, which we thought only happened during the Captain’s Reception on Formal Night.

Isabella found us and we all had a couple of drinks (non-alcoholic for Isabella obviously!), enjoying the atmosphere and the music before it was time for me to collect Caleb from the nursery while Jo and Isabella headed to dinner.




Enjoying semi-formal night

Caleb had a great time at nursery: he did some singing – Old McDonald was his favourite – played with the other children, and showed everyone the book that he took with him.

I took him back to the room briefly to drop off his stuff, wash his hands and get the iPad – all the while he was still singing. We then joined Isabella and Jo in the Enchanted Garden where we ordered the following:












Enchanted Garden

Jo: Garlic and Parsley Sautéed Shrimp (On a Jambalaya Rice) / Wild Forest Mushroom Soup (With Sour Cream, White Truffle Oil and Chives) / New York Strip Steak (With Truffle Layered Potatoes, Honey Parsnips, and Buttered Spinach with a Pepper Sauce on the side) / White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Butterscotch Sauce, Almond Florentine, Vanilla Ice Cream)


Garlic and Parsley Sautéed Shrimp


Mushroom Soup


New York Strip Steak

Me: The Enchanted Garden Platter (A selection of Charcuterie with a Whole-Grain Baguette and Peach Marmalade) / Wild Forest Mushroom Soup (With Sour Cream, White Truffle Oil and Chives) / Portobello Ravioli (With a White Wine Thyme Cream Sauce, Morel Mushrooms, Green Asparagus, picked buttered Kale and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano) / White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Butterscotch Sauce, Almond Florentine, Vanilla Ice Cream)


Enchanted Garden Platter


Portobello Ravioli


White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Isabella: The Enchanted Garden Platter (A selection of Charcuterie with a Whole-Grain Baguette and Peach Marmalade) / Portobello Ravioli (With a White Wine Thyme Cream Sauce, Morel Mushrooms, Green Asparagus, picked buttered Kale and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano) / Kvæfjordkake (Butter Cake, Baked Almond Meringue, Vanilla Cream, Berry Compote)


Kvæfjordkake

Caleb: Breaded Fish Nuggets with Tartar Mayonnaise (Served with fresh Vegetables and Steak Fries) / White Chocolate Cheesecake (With Strawberry Sauce)


Fish Nuggets




White Chocolate Cheesecake

After another enjoyable dinner we went to the atrium and watched the Soul Duo – Caleb’s favourite band. He was dancing and enjoying the music and the band were smiling and singing to him!

We had a couple more (free) drinks before it was Caleb’s bed time. I took him back to the room for his bath while Jo & Isabella went to the Walt Disney Theatre to watch the Beauty & the Beast show that I’d watched earlier.












After dinner fun

Caleb had his bath and went to bed – he’d had another fun and tiring day. I had my shower and wrote my notes in bed and then listened to a podcast until Jo returned – Isabella was off to the Edge.

They’d enjoyed the show and, unsurprisingly, Jo had cried a lot! She had her shower and then we both read until Isabella came back and then we all went to sleep.

Tomorrow we’ll be getting off the ship for a wander around Amsterdam.

TFR