Dining at Share on the Ruby Princess

We recently took a California Coastal repositioning cruise on the Ruby Princess. Since it was a short five day cruise, there wasn't a Most Traveled Guest Party for those 40 passengers with the most days sailed with Princess. Instead we received a letter in our cabin congratulating us for being one of the most traveled and the option to eat one night at Crown Grill, Share, or Salty Dog for free. We've done Salty Dog a couple times before on this ship during past cruises, Crown Grill a bunch of times on several ships across the Princess fleet, but had never ventured into Share. So guess what we chose?

We had our dinner the last night of the cruise when the ship was docked in Victoria, Canada. Since many people were onshore we arrived to an empty restaurant. Nice!

Share was amazing! So much better than I had expected. The multi-course meal (6 courses!), the service, the atmosphere, the flavors, and the view? Oh, yeah.

I think the best way to give you an idea of the food is through pictures. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. And don't get me started on the tasty bread. Oh. My. Gosh.

Course One: Starter

Charcuterie: ’Nduja is a spicy, spreadable salami that comes from the southernmost Italian region of Calabria. Cured from prosciutto, with prominent chilies and spices. Choice of beef bresaola, duck prosciutto, or fennel-infused finocchiona. (We chose beef bresaola.)

Taleggio Cheese with accompaniments

Course Two: Salad

Tomatoes and Burrata: A variety of local tomatoes paired with oregano oil and dressed fennel leaves 

Asparagus and Radish: Lightly roasted asparagus with arugula pesto, red bell pepper relish and

sourdough croutons

Course Three: Pasta

Ricotta Cavatelli: Roasted sunchokes, pickled beets and a Castelmagno espuma

Pork Ravioli: Green curry filling coated in lemongrass cream, and topped with crunchy chicharrones

 

Course Four: Sea

Lobster Bisque: Quick-seared cold-water lobster tail pieces with Madeira crème fraîche and fennel confit

Prawns “Baja Style”: Jumbo prawns simmered in spicy tomato water, roasted garlic and a black pepper frisée salad 

 

Course Five: Land

Brown Butter Berkshire Pork Chop (for 2): A hard roasted double-bone pork rack, with confit carrots, broccoli purée and a jus of whole grain mustard

Course Five: Dessert

Almond Marzipan: Warm cake paired with strawberry coulis, candied almonds and crème fraîche ice cream

Toffee Cheesecake: With a red wine reduction, homemade raisins and macerated grapes

Here is the menu in case you'd like to see their other offerings. Currently the cover charge is $29 per person.

We will absolutely try Share again. (OK, I've made myself hungry now.)

Foster Friday

If Cupcake would wake up and get off the quilt I'm working on I'm sure she'd be happy today was another Foster Friday.

And Shortstack? I think he's just ready to give someone a hug.

Want to help contribute to the work I do with foster kittens? I have an Amazon wish list right here. These are the things I use again and again, year after year. With daily laundry and frequent cleaning, items have to be replaced often. I’d love anything you’d be willing to send my way!

What about Flapjack? How does he feel about Foster Friday? He's a bit too occupied to answer, trying to get in one more feeding with Mama Sienna.

Today Mama Sienna heads back to Simply Cats all by herself. She'll be fixed and available for adoption soon. If you're in the Boise area and looking for the sweetest cat around, Mama Sienna is your girl!

It'll still be a while before the kitties leave me, thank goodness. They are too much fun.

Crispy White Chocolate Bars Recipe - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making a snack perfect for those 4th of July BBQs, Crispy White Chocolate Bars.

Looking for sewing and crafting projects? 

Click here to see all my tutorials!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 6 cups mini marshmallows
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 package white chocolate chips
• 1 small package candy melts like this red, white, and blue set here
• candy-coated chocolate

You can find the directions right here:

Concierge Lounge on the Royal Princess

Suite guests sailing on Princess Cruises have several benefits accompanying their cabin category. Royal, Regal, and Majestic Princess suite passengers have an additional perk - a Concierge Lounge (VIP Lounge on the Majestic). Today we're talking about the Concierge Lounge on the Royal Princess.

If you'd rather view the video than read everything I have below, you can check it out here:

Or if you'd rather read about it instead, carry on...

On Deck 14 Aft is where you will find the Concierge Lounge.

It's shares the same foyer with the Wedding Chapel and can be accessed on both the port and starboard side.

If you happen to be wandering Deck 14 and come across these full length windows along the passenger hallways you know you're in the right spot.

Entrance requires a key card.

 The lounge is open 24 hours a day while the Concierge has set desk hours. 

What can the Concierge do for you? How about assisting with such things as shore excursions, dining reservations, and spa appointments? Need to check-in online with your airline and get your boarding passes printed? He can do that, too. 

The lounge has coffee, tea, and juices. They are serious about their coffee here.

Cappuccino, espresso, latte, double shot, milk foam and more. 

The machine also has button for decaf and hot water.

You'll also find snacks in the Lounge.

At breakfast you'll find pastries and fruit.

Other times you'll find sandwiches, wraps, cheeses, and cookies.

They do have a wash basin and antibacterial cleaner dispensers.

The description of the Concierge Lounge states it's a good place to work. I found that part not to be true. The tables are lower and not conducive to typing or writing but it is a quiet place to relax. There is plenty of seating but we never saw but a couple other guests during our visits. 

There are books and games and a couple TVs. 

Plenty of outlets were around the room in case you needed to do some charging during your Lounge stay. Might come in handy before heading off to the airport. The Concierge Lounge is also a private disembarkation lounge for suite passengers on that last morning onboard. 

Remember, the Concierge Lounge is currently only for suite passengers sailing on the Royal, Regal, and Majestic Princess.

The Friday 15

Let's see how well I did downsizing this month...

June 7:

We have a one quilt going to our neighbor's nurse. Two Princess bags being stuffed full of snacks and handed off to a crew member. Three Effy necklaces going to the same crew member - one for her, one for her momma, and one for her daughter.

One grill tray for the BBQ that hubby tossed without a picture. Air freshener plug ins, magazines, Alaska knick-knacks, and a sweater. 

June 14:

Do you ever pick things up, thinking they would be a good resource? Well, that's what I did a while back with these cruising brochures. I thought they would be helpful for folks in my cruising classes to look at. But the pricing in cruise brochures are just outrageous! So other than teaching them not to book a cruise at the listed prices the books haven't come in as handy as I thought they would. So they must go to someone else.

Then throw in some full packages of binding and lace and a big bag of miscellaneous bindings and lace and a couple pens and away goes 15 more items.

June 21:

I'm just about tapped out of things inside the house to get rid of. One last time through my bathroom, sewing room, and office drawers netted 15 more items. Hubby's not going to be happy if I start heading towards his shed next! 

June 28:

Yep, I had to raid the shed.

A saw, hammer, and an ice chest that didn't get pictures. 2 pair of shorts that went to my daughter without a picture. And a bunch of other things makes 15.