Tag: Cruise

Curise Control 2024 Getaway.

Having travelled by Air, Train and Road the only mode of transportation left to experience was to travel by Sea, The cruise experience, was one of its kind. We were very sceptical about travelling and experiencing the Cruise and the Sea Sickness, How were we going to manage on the ship for so long and how do we go about the whole journey?
Fortunately, We bumped into the Man who would make the whole cruise experience seamless and memorable.
From the moment we checked in to the cruise, We had surprises waiting to unfold.
We had an invite sent for the exclusive meet-up with the team and a few guests who were part of the Heaven Suites.
On our first day during the dinner at Manhattan Restaurant, Where the menu changes every day and doesn’t require a reservation, We had a table ready for us.
We had meal suggestions from the chef.
The meal had seafood dishes,0% Alcohol Wine and Mocktails with Meat and desserts.
We had a team who had planned our next few days on the ship including our restaurant reservation for the whole journey.
The first Dock at Cannes – Was another experience of priority guests for the tender boat. ( Cannes is a tender port on Cruises, The Ship docks at a distance Before the tenders are released in Slots and on Reservation only. )
We had the priority to get on board the cruise.
Cannes, We do it again! A city known for the Film Festival is a beautiful stroll in the Promenade de la Croisette, The Cinematic painting on the walls and the walk through narrow steeped lanes while a red carpet awaits you to walk the steps of an auditorium that overlooks the French Rivera.
While that was the glamorous walk on the stage, the walk off to the Marche Forville
A weekend food Market was an interesting experience with so many fresh herbs and cheese available to taste, Before we headed to the beach.
Back on the Ship, We took a break to explore the ship before we headed to change for Dinner.
We explored the Reading Room – The Reading Room had an amazing collection of the new popular bestsellers with a view of the sea. Also a gaming room for ones who like to play chess with their mates.
Walking around the bars, We had a photographer doing photo shoots with backdrops and Art being displayed on the sides while we walked.

The next day we visited another port Civitavecchia and it seemed like the hottest day!


The highlight was Naples! We had made a reservation for Michele’s pizza!Rated as  The World’s Best Pizza.A 150 years old pizzeria `
Just 4 choices on the menu to choose from and order, Margherita being the original.
Legend has it, that the Queen ordered and loved the pizza so much! That it was named the Margherita. If you don’t have a reservation? You can take a takeaway from
The one-mile-long Queue side of the Restaurant. Braving the rain was worth it here!

And for those who are avid Football fans!
Here, is an interesting Trivia. Mardonaa was from Naples, and there is a mural and Fan made space in Naples!

Cagliari, Sardinia though a beautiful town, We hardly had any time here!  
Spain Palma De Mallorca was the surprise city For us! It was beautiful with a mix of the Middle East, Tangier in Morocco and hints of Europe! The cathedral was beautifully built with the best view of the sea and a sunset worth coming back to!
Ibiza! We would have liked to be here overnight to experience the Nightlife, but the day trip! Reminds you a lot about Greece.

Coming back to the cruise!

Each dinner meal was an experience!
Right from Indian delicacy Butter Chicken, Samosa and South Indian style Jumbo prawns and indian style Fish that were specially curated for us. The dessert Gajar ka Halwa! Couldn’t have been a better conclusion to our Indian Meal.
The French Meal at Le Bistro on the Escape ship was esquite with Jumbo size lobster and nice chunks of Sea Bass! With French onion Soup and herbed butter that was made of snails.
The Italian Meal at La Cucina- The pizza was at par with Michele’s we had in Naples!
Our Italian meal were with Risotto fungi mushroom truffles, With Amaretto liqueur and limoncello on ice on the sides.
For dessert, we had one of the best Panna Cotta till date, Tiramisu It was so good, that We went again the next day to Only have one more slice of tiramisu.
Teppanyaki – The Japanese Experience!
This was Very good + Entertainment.
A table of ten with a total of seven of us and it was a fun interactive dinner for us with tricks while our food was being prepared.
Tried a Wasabi Cocktail! And it was a sweet and spicy fusion drink.
The Moderno – The Brazilian steakhouse was reliving our Brazil meal again that we had a few months ago! And it was as good as that one! With meats and bread.
Cagney Steakhouse: a signature Restaurant that is there is most of the NCL cruises was an American steakhouse experience where we had very good Crab Cakes, Lobsters and calamari!  
The last but not the least Bayamo was the best seafood dinner meal with very huge size shrimps! And fish! That just melted away! And the birthday Surprise meal with a huge cake was the highlight of Dad’s 60th.
They also set up the room to celebrate the birthday to an amazement with chocolates, A spa voucher and a bottle of Wine and champagne!

The ship had a lot of other offerings, the gaming arcade, Table Tennis , Pools, The Mini Golf course, a Jogging track, Water slides for the kids or the kid in You! Rope walking For the adventurous one.
For the one’s who like to drink, there are about 15 odd bars to choose your drinks from and many spots you would like to Keep hanging around ,While you enjoy your drink. Many other interactive activities are scheduled throughout the cruise, and you have the freedom to attend or skip them!
If you haven’t cruised yet! Now is the perfect time to take control of your cruise Break.

Cruise Route:

Travel to Barcelona

9 Days

Barcelona – Cannes – Livorno- Civitavecchia-Naples- Cagliari-Palma De Mallorca – Ibiza- Barcelona

Mediterranean Cruise…

Port of Call: #barcelona
Day 1: #Cannes
Day2: #Livorno- #Florence and #Pisa Around the port
Day3: Overnight at #Livorno
Day4: #Civitavecchia – #Rome is close to this port
Day 5: #Naples
Day6: #Calgilari
Day 7: #Palmademallorca
Day 8: #Ibiza
Day 9: #Barcelona

Barcelona sightseeing:

Parkguell

Gaudi

sagradafamilia

Casabatlo

Cafes:
@nomadcoffee

Food:
@tapatapabarcelona

Food:

Churros #patatbravas

Cannes:

Marché Forville -Food Market

Livorno:
Cathedrals

Naples:
@pizzeriadamichele : Bucket list, Done after a decade!

Palma:
Cafes @arabaycoffee @thebarnberlin

Series To Stream on Netflix and Chill!

  • • Unorthodox : 

The series was inspired by and is based on, the Memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.  Satmar Movement in a  Hasidic group(Community), is a  Jewish Group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in Western Ukraine in the 18th Century and spread across Eastern Europe rapidly. 

Today they are found in Israel and USA originating from the city Satu Mare Romania where it was founded in 1905 by  A Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum.  

Following WW 2 it was re-established in NY becoming one of the largest Hasidic movements in the world. It’s characterised by strict religious codes – rejection of Modern Culture and Anti-Zionism (Movement of Jewish people that supports re – Establishment of and support for Jewish State in a territory)

 a Hassidic community In Williamsburg, Brooklyn  NYC. 

Teachings – Emphasises God’s exist in the universe and the need to follow all religious practice and spiritual practices.

This series is the first series in Yiddish for Netflix and adapts and represents Jewish culture.  it’ represents the culture very authentically. The  Music Academy Barenboim-Said-Akademie is an actual location in Berlin, Germany where  Bachelors &  Artist Diploma in Music is studied  Jews & Muslims play classical music together, as a whole utopia. We were inspired by this idea, as the sort of institution that could only begin in Berlin.”

And in case you have read the book and are in two minds whether you should go ahead with series or not. How different is it?

Then you could watch the making of Unorthodox a twenty minutes episode on Netflix itself. 

And if you would just want to watch a movie instead to understand the Jew community you could watch. One of us – A movie you can watch. helps you identify the community and the who experience of the series is very 

  • High Seas : 

High Sea – Netflix series is a mystery period drama series in Spanish. 

Created by : Ramón Campos & Gema R. Neira

Plot:

The show is completely set on a ship Bárbara de Braganza and as the journey begins from Vigo Port to Rio De Janeiro. 

There are few incidents taking place. The first season is a complete breeze with every episode ending in a dramatic twist waiting to be unfolded in the next episode. 

The episode is 45 minutes each. The show is two-season long with eight-episode each and the whole journey is an exciting, thrilling and keeping you on the edge.

Who Will like watching this?

Audience Who like Mystery Thrillers.

The Characters 

In the show, the characters are introduced just at the right moment & the backstory or references about them are given when needed.

In case you have already watched this show or would like to watch another series on the same lines  There are a couple of more shows by the creators on Netflix itself  Cable Girls, Grand Hotel & Velvet. 

The creators particularly love periodic drama and Have done well with the whole production & storyline. I am sure you would love these shows. 

Set Design & Production – Is very periodic and gives us the sense of a luxury cruise.

The lighting is very cinematic with the long shot of the ship on the water in the evening is the most beautiful shot in the series. 

The moment the crew pull the lever to adjust the ship is also very important details that have taken care of the whole set design.  (Slow, Half and full alphabetically written ) 

The costume, styling of the character is very retro and giving you the sense of the series set in the 1940s. 

The Music & Background score is suspenseful.  

The show offers a cast That not only good looking but with most of the Spanish actors being established models & well known Spanish actors.